HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Parliament: Renewable Energy

Justine Greening: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much electricity was  (a) consumed on and  (b) produced from onsite renewable sources on the Parliamentary Estate in each year from 2002 to 2007.

Nick Harvey: The quantities of electricity consumed on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate in each year from April 2003 to March 2008, derived from invoices, are given as follows. The data for the year 2002-03 are not readily available.
	
		
			   Electricity consumption (kWh) 
			 2003-04 21,439,229 
			 2004-05 21,560,046 
			 2005-06 21,864,974 
			 2006-07 21,928,289 
			 2007-08 21,740,053 
		
	
	No electricity was produced from onsite renewable sources on the parliamentary estate in any year from 2002-08. 10 per cent. of electricity was purchased from offsite renewable sources from 2003 onwards and by April 2007, this had increased to 100 per cent.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Polling Stations: Disabled

Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance has been issued to returning officers on  (a) access to polling stations for those with disabilities and  (b) steps to be taken in the event of non-delivery of polling cards.

Peter Viggers: holding answer 9 May 2008
	The Electoral Commission informs me that its guidance for returning officers covers access to polling stations for those with disabilities. This includes a checklist of issues to consider when choosing buildings for use as polling stations. The polling station handbook for use by presiding officers and poll clerks on election day also contains advice on accessibility.
	The Commission's guidance also includes information about the production and distribution of polling cards and the Commission provides advice on request in the event of non-delivery of polling cards.

WALES

Departmental Translation Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on translation and interpretation services in 2007-08, broken down by language.

Paul Murphy: My Department spent £6,620 on translation services in the last financial year; all translation costs were for the Welsh language.

Parc Prison: Mental Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of child and adolescent mental health services in Parc Prison, Bridgend; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.
	Health Commission Wales (HCW) is currently working towards the provision of a Forensic Adolescent Consultation and Treatment Service (FACTS) in South and North Wales. HCW anticipate the service to be available in the summer of this year (2008). Part of the FACTS remit of the South Wales team will be to provide assessment and treatment advice for children in Pare prison with mental health problems. The FACTS will also assist local CAMHS teams in the development of specific services to the prison population.
	The Welsh Assembly Government has made a commitment to CAMHS in its 'One Wales' document. The budget settlement included an additional £4.8 million—£1 million in 2008-09 and £1.6 million and £2.2 million in successive years—to enhance service delivery. This clearly demonstrates the priority that the Assembly Government attaches to these services. In addition, some £6.5 million has been allocated to counselling in schools over the same period.
	The 2001 document "Everybody's Business" is embedded in the development of policy within the Assembly Government. The well-being of children and adolescents in Wales, including their mental emotional health, is of paramount importance to this Government.
	The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services in Wales (NSF) embeds this philosophy and the setting of targets via the Service and Financial Framework for the NHS in Wales has ensured that services are improving as evidenced by the NSF Self Assessment Audit Tool results for 2006-07.
	A review of CAMHS covering all relevant agencies is being undertaken by the Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. The outcome of this review, which is expected towards the end of 2008, will contribute positively to future service developments.

TRANSPORT

A4123

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to complete the de-trunking of the A4123.

Tom Harris: Subject to the completion of the statutory procedures, it is intended that the A4123 should be detrunked by March 2009.

A4123: Accidents

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many accidents took place on the A4123 involving  (a) pedestrians and  (b) cyclists in the last five years;
	(2)  how many accidents resulting in fatalities have occurred on the A4123 in the last five years.

Tom Harris: The number of accidents on the length of A4123 for which the Highways Agency is responsible, for the latest five year period for which data are available, is as follows:
	Personal injury accidents: 48 pedestrians; 18 cyclists.
	Fatalities: four, of which two involved pedestrians.

A4123: Cycleways

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of introducing improved provision for cyclists on the A4123.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has given consideration to the provision of cycle routes on the A4123 footways near junctions but no specific schemes have so far been identified.

A4123: Pedestrians

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans her Department has to improve facilities for  (a) pedestrians and  (b) cyclists on the A4123 in Dudley and Sandwell.

Tom Harris: Currently there are no schemes planned in the 2008-09 financial year to improve the facilities already available for pedestrians and cyclists on the A4123. A scheme identified for future consideration is the improvement of pedestrian facilities in the vicinity of Mason Street, Coseley but this is unlikely to be completed prior to the proposed detrunking of this route.

A4123: Pedestrians

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the risk of accident to  (a) pedestrians and  (b) cyclists on the A4123 in Dudley and Sandwell.

Tom Harris: There have been two formal studies carried out into the accident risk to pedestrians and cyclists on the A4123 in the last three years. These were A4123 Pedestrian and Cyclists Accidents Birmingham to Wolverhampton Safety Study (April 2005) and The A4123 Operational Review (January 2008). In addition a review of the needs of pedestrians under the Disability Discrimination Act has also been completed for the whole of the route. All resulted in schemes that have either been taken forward or are being considered for future development.

A4123: Safety Measures

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to improve safety for pedestrians crossing the A4123 between the Foxyard and Priory estates in Dudley.

Tom Harris: There is an existing signal controlled crossing facility on the A4123 at Priory road. The Highways Agency has given consideration to the provision of additional facilities at Tipton road but this is unlikely to be completed prior to the proposed detrunking of this route.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department and its predecessors spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The majority of central Government Departments are members of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). The GCOF aims to fulfil the Government's commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central government. It is available to all central government departments and provides a simple and cost effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09).
	The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd., who won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 certified emission reduction credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits, over three years from a range of clean development mechanism(COM) projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions Plc, to whom EEA is the investment adviser.
	As a participant in the GCOF, the Department for Transport contributed £13,445.17 to offset air travel in the year 2006-07. In addition, the Government Car and Despatch Agency contributed £22,621.31 to offset Government road fleet emissions. Data are currently being collected for the 2007-08 reporting year and will be available later in the year.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of her Department's civil servants have been  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed for accessing (i) obscene and (ii) other prohibited material on work computers in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Regular reminders are issued to staff about their responsibilities with regard to the use of e-mail and internet systems. In order to ensure that these systems are not abused, or that the Department for Transport's (DFT) security is not compromised, e-mails and internet use may be monitored from time to time.
	Following are the details of the number of DFT staff either suspended or dismissed over the past five years for accessing either obscene or other prohibited material on work computers.
	
		
			   Suspended  Dismissed 
			 2007 <5 <5 
			 2006 (1)<5 (2)18 
			 2005 <5 <5 
			 2004 <5 <5 
			 2003 <5 <5 
			 Total 9 26 
			 (1) Includes one case where an individual was suspended but resigned before disciplinary charges could be investigated. (2) Includes 17 people who were dismissed from DVLA after it was discovered that staff had been accessing and circulating inappropriate material.

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 33W, on public transport: concessions, what representation of those with mental health disabilities there is on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee.

Rosie Winterton: There is no specific representation of those with mental health disabilities on the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
	Section 125 (3) of the Transport Act 1985 provides that at least half of the membership of the Committee should consist of persons who are disabled. Currently over 60 per cent. (13 out of 21) of the Committee are disabled. Members are appointed on merit and have experience of disability issues in general and understanding of the particular issues pertaining to certain impairments. DPTAC has a pan-disability approach to its work and its advice regularly reflect the views and concerns of people with different types of impairments.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Disclosure of Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests from  (a) private individuals,  (b) car park enforcement companies and  (c) other sources were submitted to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the release of information from the vehicle register under the provision of reasonable cause in each of the last five years; and how many of these were (i) agreed and (ii) rejected in each such year.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table includes all requests for vehicle keeper details processed under the 'reasonable cause' provisions. These include requests from insurance and finance companies, private car park enforcement companies, members of the public and solicitors, for keeper details at a specific date of event. It also contains requests where the current registered keeper requires the full history of his vehicle and from mileage companies for investigations into vehicle 'clocking'. The DVLA does not keep separate figures for each category of requests, so is unable to provide figures on how many requests were from private individual, car park enforcement companies, or other sources.
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Electronic 597,688 633,084 809,859 936,538 1,263,019 
			 Manual 291,975 327,476 454,425 407,365 380,874 
			 Total 889,663 960,560 1,264,284 1,343,903 1,643,893 
		
	
	The following table shows the number of requests for information that were rejected during the same time period.
	
		
			   Requests rejected 
			 2003-04 17,565 
			 2004-05 16,381 
			 2005-06 12,383 
			 2006-07 37,763 
			 2007-08 35,682 
			 Total 119,774

Felixstowe to Nuneaton Railway Line: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail route in each year since 1997; how much her Department plans to spend in  (a) 2009,  (b) 2010,  (c) 2011,  (d) 2012 and  (e) 2013; and how much of this expenditure is intended to improve the freight carrying capacity of the line.

Tom Harris: The amount of money spent on the Felixstowe to Nuneaton route since 1997 is a matter for Network Rail. The White Paper—'Delivering a Sustainable Railway'—provided for £200 million to create a strategic freight network of which £50 million has been proposed for Ipswich to Nuneaton capacity enhancements. A further £80 million of Productivity—Transport Innovation Fund money was announced in October 2007 for gauge and capacity enhancements between Peterborough and Nuneaton.
	All this expenditure is intended to enhance freight capacity on the route but will benefit passenger services as well. The annual breakdown of spend on these projects between 2009 and 2013 is a matter for Network Rail.

GoVia

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1117W, on GoVia, by what date she expects to have made an announcement regarding the South Central rail franchise.

Tom Harris: holding answer 6 May 2008
	The Government will be making a further announcement with regard to the South Central franchise before the end of May.

M20: Noise

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1445W, on M20: noise, how many sites having been designated as high priority for resurfacing have been resurfaced when the road surface has been assessed as being structurally sound.

Tom Harris: None.

Official Vehicles: Accidents

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many accidents  (a) ministerial vehicles and  (b) accompanying police vehicles have been involved in each of the last 10 years, broken down by ministerial office; and what the cost of repairs was in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Official cars for Ministers are provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency. There have been no accidents involving ministerial cars and accompanying police vehicles since the Agency was formed in 1997.

Oil: Prices

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2263-4W, on oil: prices, whether she plans to revise her projections for the future price of oil in  (a) 2010,  (b) 2015 and  (c) 2020.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 9 May 2008
	The Department for Transport uses oil price projections from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) in its transport modelling. On 2 May 2008, BERR published revised oil price assumptions to  (a) $65;  (b) $68; and  (c) $70 for the years requested. These are in 2007 prices and refer to their central scenario.
	We are in the process of using these updated projections to make new road traffic and congestion forecasts. The new oil price projections will also be incorporated into the latest versions of Department guidance and software used in developing business cases for funding by promoters.

Railways: Construction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what preparatory steps she has taken in connection with the possible future construction of high-speed rail lines.

Tom Harris: holding answer 1 May 2008
	The Secretary of State has invited Network Rail to lead work on the development of our understanding of the complex options that may be needed in the future, in the context of the Department for Transport's wider strategic planning process. This will include looking at the feasibility and potential role of new railway lines, whether high speed or conventional.

Railways: Consultants

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2008,  Official Report, column 173W, on railways: consultants, 
	(1)  what work is being carried out by consultants on behalf of her Department on the feasibility of a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham;
	(2)  what work is being done by her Department on the feasibility of a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

Tom Harris: holding answer 28 April 2008
	 The Secretary of State has invited Network Rail to lead work on the development of our understanding of the complex options that may be needed in the future, in the context of the Department for Transport's wider strategic planning process. This will include looking at the feasibility and potential role of new railway lines, whether high speed or conventional.

Roads: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds have been allocated by her Department at national and regional level to Essex county council's feasibility study into an additional access road for Canvey Island.

Rosie Winterton: The question of a proposed access road to Canvey Island is a matter for Essex county council, as local highway authority. The Department for Transport has not specifically allocated any funding for a feasibility study for any proposed scheme either at national or regional level.

Trains

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that the electric version of the proposed Inter-City Express will be equipped with an automatic coupler to facilitate the attachment of a diesel locomotive.

Tom Harris: holding answer 8 May 2008
	It is a requirement of the Invitation to Tender, published by the Department for Transport last year, that electric IEP trains can be automatically coupled to diesel powered vehicles.

Trains

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role her Department will have in the procurement process for the new Inter-City Express rolling stock.

Tom Harris: holding answer 8 May 2008
	The Department for Transport has been leading the procurement process to-date, and will continue to do so through to completion in 2009.

Trains

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that rail vehicles intended for use on  (a) Thameslink and  (b) Crossrail routes will be compatible for use on either line.

Tom Harris: holding answer 8 May 2008
	Thameslink and Crossrail are similar in concept. Both aim to connect together national rail routes with a high frequency metro style service through central London. However, Thameslink uses existing tunnels built in the 19th century, whereas Crossrail will use a new, purpose built tunnel. As a result the constraints on the physical size of the trains are different for the two projects and for that reason it is unlikely that they will be fully compatible.

Transport

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date she expects to publish her Green Paper on transport challenges; and what topics will be covered by the Paper.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 1 May 2008
	 Since the publication of "Towards a Sustainable Transport System" in October 2007, the Department for Transport has been discussing with stakeholders how to define the challenges that we will need to address in our transport strategy for 2014 and beyond. Those discussions finished at the end of March. We aim to publish our response to these stakeholder discussions, and our view on how the process of generating and selecting options should work, shortly.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his statement of 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 944, that there was record employment under Labour, including record numbers of British jobs, how many  (a) people and  (b) working age people were in employment in each year since 1997; what the (i) employment rate and (ii) working age employment rate was of (A) the UK population, (B) UK citizens, (C) UK born citizens and (D) non-UK citizens in each year; what the figures were in each quarter since 1 January 2006; and if he will make a statement on Government targets for the employment rate in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The information requested, as well as information on all those aged 16 and over in employment, is given in the following tables.
	The Government's aim is to maximise employment opportunity for all, with a long-term aspiration of an employment rate of 80 per cent.
	
		
			  Table  A :  UK population 
			   (i) Employment rate (percentage)  (ii) WA employment  (iii) 16+ employment 
			 Q2 1997 72.90 25,700,000 26,500,000 
			 Q2 1999 73.90 26,300,000 27,100,000 
			 Q2 2001 74.50 26,900,000 27,700,000 
			 Q2 2002 74.50 27,000,000 27,900,000 
			 Q2 2003 74.80 27,300,000 28,200,000 
			 Q2 2004 74.70 27,400,000 28,400,000 
			 Q2 2005 74.70 27,700,000 28,700,000 
			 Q1 2006 74.60 27,800,000 28,900,000 
			 Q2 2006 74.60 27,800,000 29,000,000 
			 Q3 2006 74.50 27,900,000 29,000,000 
			 Q4 2006 74.50 27,900,000 29,100,000 
			 Q1 2007 74.30 27,900,000 29,100,000 
			 Q2 2007 74.40 27,900,000 29,200,000 
			 Q3 2007 74.40 28,000,000 29,200,000 
			 Q4 2007 74.70 28,100,000 29,400,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: UK Nationals 
			   (i) Employment rate  (percentage)  (ii) WA employment  (iii) 16+ employment 
			 Q2 1997 73.2 24,600,000 25,400,000 
			 Q2 1999 74.3 25,100,000 25,900,000 
			 Q2 2001 75.0 25,500,000 26,200,000 
			 Q2 2002 75.0 25,500,000 26,400,000 
			 Q2 2003 75.3 25,600,000 26,500,000 
			 Q2 2004 75.1 25,600,000 26,600,000 
			 Q2 2005 75.2 25,600,000 26,600,000 
			 Q1 2006 74.9 25,500,000 26,600,000 
			 Q2 2006 74.8 25,400,000 26,500,000 
			 Q3 2006 75.2 25,600,000 26,700,000 
			 Q4 2006 75.0 25,400,000 26,600,000 
			 Q1 2007 74.6 25,200,000 26,400,000 
			 Q2 2007 74.8 25,200,000 26,400,000 
			 Q3 2007 75.3 25,400,000 26,600,000 
			 Q4 2007 75.5 25,400,000 26,700,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: UK Born 
			   (i) Employment  r ate  (percentage)  (ii) WA employment  (iii) 16+ e mployment 
			 Q2 1997 73.5 23,600,000 24,400,000 
			 Q2 1999 74.6 24,100,000 24,800,000 
			 Q2 2001 75.4 24,400,000 25,200,000 
			 Q2 2002 75.3 24,400,000 25,200,000 
			 Q2 2003 75.7 24,500,000 25,300,000 
			 Q2 2004 75.5 24,500,000 25,400,000 
			 Q2 2005 75.6 24,400,000 25,400,000 
			 Q1 2006 75.3 24,300,000 25,300,000 
			 Q2 2006 75.2 24,200,000 25,200,000 
			 Q3 2006 75.7 24,300,000 25,400,000 
			 Q4 2006 75.5 24,200,000 25,300,000 
			 Q1 2007 75.0 24,000,000 25,100,000 
			 Q2 2007 75.2 23,900,000 25,100,000 
			 Q3 2007 75.6 24,100,000 25,200,000 
			 Q4 2007 75.9 24,100,000 25,300,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table D: Foreign nationals 
			   (i) Employment rate (percentage)  (ii) WA employment  (iii) 16+ Employment 
			 Q2 1997 60.3 930,000 960,000 
			 Q2 1999 60.0 980,000 1,000,000 
			 Q2 2001 61.5 1,150,000 1,190,000 
			 Q2 2002 62.0 1,230,000 1,270,000 
			 Q2 2003 62.6 1,320,000 1,350,000 
			 Q2 2004 64.8 1,430,000 1,460,000 
			 Q2 2005 63.8 1,520,000 1,550,000 
			 Q1 2006 66.9 1,690,000 1,720,000 
			 Q2 2006 67.8 1,760,000 1,800,000 
			 Q3 2006 68.9 1,830,000 1,870,000 
			 Q4 2006 68.6 1,880,000 1,930,000 
			 Q1 2007 66.7 1,900,000 1,940,000 
			 Q2 2007 67.8 2,010,000 2,050,000 
			 Q3 2007 68.4 2,020,000 2,060,000 
			 Q4 2007 68.1 2,080,000 2,110,000 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000 (in the case of foreign nationals to the nearest 10,000). 2. Tables B to D are not seasonally adjusted. This means direct comparisons between different quarters are not possible. 3. The figures in Table A are seasonally adjusted headline employment figures based on population estimates published in 2006. 4. In order to provide the more detailed breakdown that is required to answer the second part of the question in Tables B to D, it is necessary to use data that are based on population estimates made in 2003—these are the latest estimates available for use in respect of particular categories of the labour force such as migrants. The figures in Table A are based on population estimates published in 2006 and as such the figures presented in Tables B to D are not directly comparable to the figures in Table A. The totals for the UK population as a whole—Table A—will not be equal to the sum of the numbers shown for UK and foreign nationals—Tables B and D respectively. In May 2008, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be releasing re-weighted data based on 2007 population estimates, which will lead to some changes in the figures in the tables. 5. Tables B to D exclude individuals whose nationality is unknown. 6. As these figures are based on a sample survey they are also subject to sampling variability. 7. It should be noted that the nationality question in the LFS is an undercount because: it excludes those who have not been resident in the UK for six months; it excludes students in halls who do not have a UK resident parent; it excludes people in most other types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites, etc); it is grossed to population estimates that only include migrants staying for twelve months or more.  Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS).

Employment: Hearing Impaired

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place to help deaf people into employment.

Stephen Timms: We are committed to helping all people, including deaf people, into suitable, sustainable employment through Jobcentre Plus.
	Access to Work can provide a range of individually tailored support to enable disabled people to enter or stay in employment. Access to Work can fund specialist support for deaf and hearing impaired people in work. One type of support that deaf people may find particularly helpful is the funding provided through Access to Work for British Sign Language Interpreters, Lip Speakers or Palantypists.
	People with health conditions, including deaf people, may also benefit from the help that is available through Pathways to Work. This service provides extra support and opportunities to help people with health problems and disabilities gain employment and retain it. Pathways to Work provides a series of interviews with an adviser and access to programmes to increase skills or confidence, or to help manage a health condition. Financial incentives may also be available to help people move into work.
	Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentre Plus work with people needing more extensive support. They need not be receiving benefits and may be in employment but worried about losing their job due to their disability. Disability employment advisers can advise on appropriate employment opportunities, act as advocates on the customer's behalf, and negotiate with employers, as well as refer people, where appropriate, for an occupational health assessment, or draw on the professional expertise of work psychologists specialising in working with disabled people. Disability employment advisers can also advise on specialised support available for disabled people. This includes Work Preparation, WORKSTEP, New Deal for Disabled People where it is in operation, Residential Training Colleges, Job Introduction Scheme and Access to Work.
	Between December last year and March of this year, we undertook a public consultation 'Helping people achieve their full potential: Improving specialist disability employment services'. The consultation sought views about ways in which the Access to Work programme and other programmes for disabled people could be further improved, and ways to enhance aspects of the disability employment adviser role. We will publish our response during the summer.

Housing Benefit: Antisocial Behaviour

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each of the eight local authority pilot areas have  (a) received written warnings for housing benefit sanction and  (b) had their housing benefit withdrawn because of antisocial behaviour.

James Plaskitt: So far none of the local authorities taking part in the pilot for the sanction of housing benefit related to antisocial behaviour has issued a written warning or applied a sanction.

Housing Benefit: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each local authority in Wales repaid to the Exchequer in respect of underspent funds allocated for discretionary housing payments in each of the last five financial years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Amount of repaid, underspent discretionary housing payment in each local authority in Wales in the last five financial years 
			  £ 
			  Local  a uthority  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Blaenau Gwent 3,000 4,000 — 4,000 3,000 
			 Bridgend 0 5,000 5,000 0 2,000 
			 Caerphilly 26,000 28,000 19,000 16,000 — 
			 Cardiff 14,000 0 0 0 0 
			 Carmarthenshire 19,000 12,000 13,000 19,000 9,000 
			 Ceredigion 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Conwy 4,000 0 0 0 3,000 
			 Denbighshire 12,000 7,000 14,000 15,000 5,000 
			 Flintshire 24,000 25,000 1,000 0 0 
			 Gwynedd 3,000 4,000 4,000 0 0 
			 Isle of Anglesey 7,000 8,000 0 0 0 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 10,000 11,000 8,000 3,000 0 
			 Monmouthshire 15,000 6,000 5,000 11 ,000 15,000 
			 Neath Port Talbot 4,000 1,000 14,000 10,000 6,000 
			 Newport 24,000 23,000 15,000 0 0 
			 Pembrokeshire 25,000 18,000 10,000 7,000 0 
			 Powys Rhondda 10,000 10,000 4,000 5,000 2,000 
			 Cynon Taff 31 ,000 24,000 29,000 21,000 5,000 
			 Swansea 49,000 41,000 23,000 9,000 0 
			 Torfaen Vale of 8,000 11,000 0 0 0 
			 Glamorgan 19,000 5,000 31,000 34,000 21,000 
			 Wrexham 25,000 24,000 19,000 15,000 17,000 
			 Total 330,000 270,000 220,000 170,000 90,000 
			  Notes:  1. Amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand. Amounts too small after rounding are shown with a dash.  2. Totals are rounded to the nearest 10,000.  3. The latest available audited expenditure information for discretionary housing payments is for the financial year 2006-07.  4. Zero indicates local authorities who did not underspend.

Jobcentre Plus

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1405W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on Jobcentre Plus's investigation into the feasibility of introducing advance payments.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 28 April 2008
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 12 May 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1405W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on Jobcentre Plus's investigation into the feasibility of introducing advance payments. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as chief executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I have no plans to place a copy of the report in the Library as this is subject to ongoing policy development. I would be pleased to arrange for you to be briefed by one of my senior officials, if you would find that helpful.

Pensioners: Low Incomes

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners that will have a weekly income below the minimum income guarantee in each year to 2050; and what proportion of these will be  (a) women,  (b) aged over 75,  (c) aged over 80 and  (d) aged over 85 years.

Mike O'Brien: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Pension credit ensures that no-one aged 60 and over need live on an income of less than £124.05 a week. We want every pensioner to claim the benefits to which they are entitled which is why The Pension Service continue to undertake a wide range of activities to encourage people to claim the pension credit they are entitled to, including data matching to identify those who may be eligible but who are not receiving benefits, home visits for vulnerable customers and ever closer working with partner organisations.

Social Security Benefits

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will  (a) undertake an impact assessment of the proposal to reduce the backdating period for pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit claims and  (b) make it his policy to publish the assessment before implementing any change in policy.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 24 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2174W.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, column 49W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, whether  (a) elements of British forces will have a command relationship subordinate to the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Force and  (b) elements of the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Force will have a command relationship subordinate to British forces in 2008.

Des Browne: Both Task Force Helmand and the US 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are under the control of the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force.
	British forces will be neither commanded by, nor in command of the US 24(th) Marine Expeditionary Unit, but individual arrangements may be made between UK and US forces as dictated by the practical execution of military operations.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of  (a) infantry battalions,  (b) helicopters,  (c) aircraft and  (d) training teams available to NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan to achieve their objectives.

Des Browne: The Bucharest summit saw a number of nations make significant additional commitments to the International Security Assistance Force; in particular President Sarkozy confirmed the deployment of an additional battalion of French troops to the east of the country.
	Nevertheless, there remains a need for more training and mentoring personnel; combat forces in the south and east of Afghanistan; and key enablers, such as helicopters and other aircraft, to meet the Combined Joint Statement of Requirements for Afghanistan. The UK continues to work with partners to address these shortfalls.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK personnel are deployed on operations, broken down by location.

Des Browne: The following table shows the number of UK service personnel deployed on operations by location at 28 April 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total 14,410 
			  of which:  
			 Afghanistan 8,900 
			 Iraq 4,000 
			 Qatar 410 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Kuwait 260 
			 Oman 210 
			 Kosovo 140 
			 At Sea 80 
			 Bahrain 80 
			 Other 40 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per Country include Bosnia, Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. With the exception of Bosnia, personnel in these countries are participating in smaller UN operations, e.g. we contribute five military personnel to the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).  Notes: 1. Figures for Iraq and Afghanistan have been rounded to the nearest 100 for operational security reasons. Other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding, the total is not equal to the sum of the individual locations. 2. Figures for Afghanistan are artificially high due to the handover period while a Relief In Place (RIP) is in operation. The operational establishment for Afghanistan is 7,800.

Armed Forces: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change in the budget of the armed forces in  (a) cash,  (b) real and  (c) percentage terms will be in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11 over the preceding year in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The defence budget over the years 2007-08 to 2010-11 can be found in the 2004 spending review (CM6237) and the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review (CM7227) White Papers. These figures can be converted to real terms using the GDP deflator, available on HM Treasury's website.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many homes for service personnel there are in  (a) Northumberland and  (b) County Durham.

Derek Twigg: There are 294 service family accommodation properties in Northumberland and 54 in County Durham.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which unit will provide the Spearhead Land Element requirement for the UK during the service in Kosovo of the 2nd Battalion The Rifles.

Bob Ainsworth: The 3 SCOTS will be providing the Spearhead Land Element requirement for the UK while 2 Rifles are deployed in Kosovo.

Armed Forces: Young Offenders

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Justice on employing the armed forces on training programmes with young offenders; how many armed forces personnel he expects to be involved in such programmes; what proportion of the cost for such programmes will be borne by his Department; and how much that is expected to be.

Bob Ainsworth: There has been a preliminary discussion between MOJ and MOD on the wider issue of strengthening the links between the armed forces and Prison Service to broaden the scope of opportunities for ex-offenders within the military. There are currently no plans to employ members of the armed forces on training programmes with young offenders.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the procurement of Ridgeback armoured vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 April 2008,  Official Report, column 482W.

Army: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the average tour interval for each battalion in the  (a) infantry and  (b) Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average tour interval was for each regiment in the  (a) Royal Artillery,  (b) Royal Engineers,  (c) Royal Logistic Corps and  (d) Royal Corps of Signals in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bob Ainsworth: Historical data to support the calculation of the average tour interval for each battalion or regiment of the infantry or the Royal Artillery are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	As at 1 April 2008, the last tour interval for each battalion of the infantry and each regiment of the Royal Artillery is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Infantry unit tour intervals 
			  Unit deployed  Last operational deployment (as a unit)  Start date  Previous operational deployment (as a unit)  End date  Last unit tour interval (months) 
			 1 Gren GDS Afghanistan May 2007 Iraq September 2006 8 
			 1 Coldm GDS Afghanistan October 2007 Iraq October 2005 23 
			 1 SG Iraq December 2007 Iraq April 2005 31 
			 1 IG Iraq June 2007 _ Northern Ireland March 2004 38 
			 1 WG Balkans October 2006 Iraq Apr 2005 17 
			 1 Scots (1 RS)(1) Iraq December 2007 Iraq May 2006 18 
			 1 Scots (1 KOSB)(1) Iraq December 2007 Northern Ireland July 2006 16 
			 2 Scots Afghanistan April 2008 Iraq October 2004 41 
			 3 Scots Iraq July 2004 Iraq June 2003 12 
			 4 Scots Iraq November 2005 Balkans October 2003 24 
			 5 Scots Afghanistan April 2008 Balkans October 2005 29 
			 1 PWRR Iraq May 2006 Iraq October 2004 18 
			 2 PWRR Iraq January 2005 Northern Ireland December 2003 12 
			 1 RRF Iraq November 2005 Iraq June 2003 28 
			 2 RRF Northern Ireland April 2003 Northern Ireland June 2002 9 
			 1 R Anglian Afghanistan May 2007 Iraq October 2005 18 
			 2 R Anglian Iraq May 2006 Afghanistan October 2003 30 
			 1 Korbr(2) Iraq November 2005 Balkans October 2000 60 
			 1 Kings(2) Iraq July 2003 Prior to January 1999 — — 
			 QLR(2) Iraq July 2003 Northern Ireland September 2001 21 
			 1 Lancs(2) Iraq December 2007 n/a — — 
			 2 Lancs(2) Iraq November 2006 n/a — — 
			 1 Yorks Iraq November 2006 Balkans September 2004 25 
			 2 Yorks Afghanistan October 2007 Balkans September 2006 12 
			 3 Yorks Iraq November 2004 Balkans June 2001 40 
			 1 R Welsh Cyprus (Theatre Reserve Battalion) May 2007 Northern Ireland January 2006 15 
			 2 R Welsh Iraq June 2007 Iraq October 2005 19 
			 1 Mercian Iraq December 2007 Iraq October 2004 37 
			 2 Mercian Afghanistan May 2007 Afghanistan April 2005 24 
			 3 Mercian Iraq November 2006 Iraq October 2005 12 
			 1 Rifles (1 RGBW)(3) Afghanistan October 2005 Northern Ireland July 2003 26 
			 1 Rifles (1 D&D)(3) Iraq May 2006 Northern Ireland March 2001 61 
			 1 Rifles — — — — — 
			 2 Rifles Iraq November 2006 Northern Ireland September 2004 25 
			 3 Rifles Iraq September 2006 Northern Ireland March 2005 17 
			 4 Rifles Iraq June 2007 Balkans October 2001 67 
			 5 Rifles Iraq May 2006 Iraq April 2004 24 
			 1R Irish Afghanistan April 2008 Iraq December 2005 27 
			 1 Para(4) Northern Ireland March 2005 Iraq June 2003 20 
			 2 Para Afghanistan April 2008 Iraq April 2006 23 
			 3 Para Afghanistan April 2008 Afghanistan October 2006 17 
			 1 RGR Afghanistan October 2007 Balkans March 2006 18 
			 2 RGR Afghanistan April 2005 Afghanistan April 2004 11 
			 (1) 1 RS and 1 KOSB amalgamated to form 1 Scots in August 2006. 1 Scots is to deploy for the first time as a formed unit to Iraq in December 2007. For the purposes of this question, 1 Scots was counted as one unit with a tour interval of 17 months. (2) 1 Korbr, 1 Kings and QLR amalgamated in July 2006 to form 1 Lancs and 2 Lancs. Operation Telic 11 will be the first unit operational deployment for 1 Lancs. Because of the nature of this amalgamation, it is not representative to calculate the average tour intervals of 1 Lancs and 2 Lancs based on the previous operational deployments of 1 Korbr, 1 Kings and QLR, as such for the purpose of this question, no unit tour interval value for 1 Korbr, 1 Kings, QLR, 1 Lancs or 2 Lancs was included in the calculation. (3) 1 RGBW and 1 DDLI amalgamated in March 2007 to form 1 Rifles. 1 Rifles has yet to deploy as a formed unit. For the purposes of this question, 1 Rifles was counted as one unit with a tour interval of 43.5 months. (4) 1 Para transferred to directorate special forces in August 2005 and for the purposes of this question, no unit tour interval value was included in the calculation. 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Artillery unit tour intervals 
			  Unit deployed  Last operational deployment (as a unit)  Start date  Previous operational deployment (as a unit)  End date  Last unit tour interval (months) 
			 1 RHA Iraq June 2007 Cyprus September 2005 20 
			 3 RHA Iraq December 2007 Iraq April 2006 19 
			 4 Regt RA Afghanistan October 2007 Cyprus September 2006 12 
			 7 Para RHA Afghanistan April 2008 Iraq December 2003 51 
			 19 Regt RA Afghanistan May 2007 Iraq October 2005 18 
			 26 Regt RA Iraq May 2006 Cyprus April 2005 12 
			 29 Cdo Regt RA Afghanistan October2006 Iraq May 2003 40 
			 40 Regt RA Iraq November 2006 Cyprus September 2004 25 
		
	
	The unit tour interval is a less relevant measure when applied to the Corps of Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. This is due to the frequency with which personnel move between formed units within these Corps (the personnel deployed with a unit will be substantially different from the personnel deployed with the same unit on a previous occasion). Unit tour interval data for these Corps are not therefore, routinely collated.

Army: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what period has elapsed since personnel serving with 2nd Battalion The Rifles were last deployed on operations.

Bob Ainsworth: 2 Rifles are due to deploy to Kosovo shortly. Their previous deployment was to Iraq from November 2006 to March 2007.

BAE Systems

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with BAE Systems.

Bob Ainsworth: Ministers and officials at varying levels hold numerous discussions with BAE systems regularly. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Bombs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on negotiations towards a legally binding treaty to prohibit cluster munitions.

Bob Ainsworth: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has held a number of discussions with the Foreign Secretary recently to determine how best to achieve a legally binding instrument that will prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of those cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

Defence Estates: Assets

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets were held by Defence Estates in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) Northern Ireland at the latest date for which information is available; what the estimated value of each asset is; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Details of all Ministry of Defence (MOD) holdings over £1 million and their latest asset valuation are available in Chapter 7 of the National Asset Register (CM7022), which can be found on HM Treasury's website. All land and building assets of the MOD are held by Defence Estates. All other assets of Defence Estates are held by Defence Equipment and Support.
	Providing details of all property below £1 million in value could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Estates: Sales

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors determine the distribution of receipts from the sale of Defence Estates' property between devolved administrations and Government budgets other than those of Defence Estates.

Derek Twigg: In line with HM Treasury guidance, receipts retained by the Ministry of Defence from the sale of Defence Estates property are reinvested by the Department in key priorities.

Defence: Procurement

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from defence equipment suppliers on the effects on them of the separation of the emissions trading scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: No known representations on emissions trading have been received.

Departmental ICT

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to ensure that counterfeit routers and other counterfeit hardware are not utilised in his Department's computer networks.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for Departments to confirm whether they hold information about malicious attacks against their IT systems.

Disabled

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department has set in relation to its employment of people with disabilities over the next five years.

Derek Twigg: We are waiting for the successor to the civil service 10 point plan, to be released in late 2008, before determining further targets.

Iraq: Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated total cost has been of equipment gifted to the Iraqi forces in each year since 2003.

Des Browne: The estimated total cost of equipment gifted to the Iraqi Security Forces per financial year is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£) 
			 2003-04 21,500.00 
			 2004-05 12,678,300.00 
			 2005-06 7,518,200.00 
			 2006-07 3,357,400.00 
			 2007-08 (1)341,600.00 
			 (1) This includes costs until 28 March 2008

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units have served  (a) one tour,  (b) two tours and  (c) three tours and more in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan.

Des Browne: These data are not currently held in the format requested. Officials are working to collate this information from a number of sources. I will therefore write to the hon. Member.
	 Substantive answer from Des Browne to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to reply to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 17 March 2008 (Official Report Column 815-6W) about the number of tours of Iraq and Afghanistan undertaken by Units. I am now in a position to be able to reply.
	The information which you requested is shown the table below;
	
		
			  Unit  Iraq  Afghanistan  Total 
			 1 Grenadier Guards 1 1 2 
			 1 Coldstream Guards 1 1 2 
			 1 Scots Guards 2 — 2 
			 1 Irish Guards 2 — 2 
			 1 Welsh Guards 1 — 1 
			 1 Scots (Royal Scots) 2 — 2 
			 1 Scots (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) 1 — 1 
			 2 Scots (Royal Highland Fusiliers) 2 1 3 
			 3 Scots (Black Watch) 2 — 2 
			 4 Scots (Highlanders) 2 — 2 
			 5 Scots (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)  1 1 
			 1 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 2 — 2 
			 2 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment 1 — 1 
			 1 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 2 — 2 
			 1 Royal Anglian 1 2 3 
			 2 Royal Anglian 1 1 2 
			 2 Lancs (Kings) 3 — 3 
			 2 Lancs (Queens) 1 — 1 
			 3 Lancs (Kings Own Royal Border Regiment) 2 — 2 
			 1 Yorks (Prince of Wales) 1 — 1 
			 2 Yorks (Green Howards) — 2 2 
			 3 Yorks (Duke of Wellington) 1 — 1 
			 1 Mercian (Cheshires) 2 — 2 
			 2 Mercian (WFR) 1 2 3 
			 3 Mercian (Staffords) 2 — 2 
			 1 Rifles (Devon and Dorset Light Infantry) 1 1 2 
			 2 Rifles (1 Royal Green Jackets) 1 — 1 
			 3 Rifles (2 Light Infantry) 1 — 1 
			 4 Rifles (2 Royal Green Jackets) 1 — 1 
			 5 Rifles (1 Light Infantry) 2 — 2 
			 1 Royal Irish 2 — 2 
			 1 Para 1 — 1 
			 2 Para 1 2 3 
			 3 Para 1 1 2 
			 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles — 1 1 
			 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles — 2 2 
			 1 Royal Welsh 1 — 1 
			 2 Royal Welsh 3 — 3 
			 Household Cavalry Regt 1 — 1 
			 Queen's Dragoon Guards 2 — 2 
			 Scots Dragoon Guards 2 — 2 
			 Royal Dragoon Guards 1 — 1 
			 QRH 2 — 2 
			 9/12 Lancers 2 — 2 
			 KRH 2 — 2 
			 Light Dragoons 2 1 3 
			 QRL 1 — 1 
			 2 Royal Tank Regt 1 — 1 
			 1 Royal Horse Artillery 2 — 2 
			 3 Royal Horse Artillery 2 — 2 
			 4 Regt Royal Artillery 1 — 1 
			 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery 1 2 3 
			 19 Regt Royal Artillery 1 — 1 
			 26 Regt Royal Horse Artillery 2 — 2 
			 29 Cdo Regt Royal Artillery 1 1 2 
			 40 Regt Royal Artillery 2 — 2 
			 3 Cdo Bde Royal Marines 1 2 3 
			 40 Cdo RM 2 1 3 
			 42 Cdo RM 1 1 2 
			 45 Cdo RM — 2 2 
			 Cdo Logistics Regt RM 1 1 2 
			 Commander UK Amphibious Forces 1 1 2 
			 1 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 4 1 5 
			 2 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 3 1 4 
			 3 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 4 1 5 
			 4 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 2 — 2 
			 5 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 1 1 2 
			 6 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt 1 — 1 
			 7 Force Protection Wing RAF Regt (Tactical Police Wing) 1 1 2 
			 1 Sqn RAF Regt 3 — 3 
			 2 Sqn RAF Regt 3 1 4 
			 3 Sqn RAF Regt 2 1 3 
			 15 Sqn RAF Regt 1 1 2 
			 34 Sqn RAF Regt 3 1 4 
			 51 Sqn RAF Regt 3 1 4 
			 63 Sqn RAF Regt (Queen's Colour Sqn) 2 — 2 
		
	
	This has proved to be a complex question to answer. You will be aware that most Infantry battalions have deployed on operations at least once in the last five years. The Infantry tend to deploy as formed units with the tour intervals in relation to Army units being based on (a) 'Units' defined as any Regiment deploying with a Regimental Headquarters and more than two Sub Units and (b) 'deployment' as any Unit deploying for four months or more. The Army's Harmony Guidelines recommend that Army units achieve 24 months between each six month operational tour.
	Elements from other Arms and Services regularly deploy as sub-units, on attachment to other units, or as individual augmentees. For example, this is the case for Royal Engineers, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel. Information on some units, such as Logistics have not been included in the return as this would incur disproportionate cost. Although other Corps may deploy with an RHQ and two or more sub units, it may not always be with the same formation or with the same individuals and would therefore make the information very difficult to collate.
	A Squadron is the key unit of deployment for the RAF and figures are collated accordingly. Additional Wings have been formed due to the increasing demand for Force Protection and this is the reason why some Wings have deployed fewer than others.
	You can see from the table that while some Army units have undertaken three deployments, others have only completed one. Whilst operations have been continuing in Iraq and Afghanistan, units will also have been covering endorsed standing Military tasks such as commitments in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans and the Falkland Islands as well as Public Duties, in addition to conducting essential training and recuperating from operations. Moreover, there have been occasions where one or two sub units of a Battalion or Regiment have deployed, but these instances do not qualify as unit deployments and are therefore not included in the table.
	I am sorry that this information has taken so long to compile, but its collation has involved trawling through a substantial amount of information to ensure as full and accurate a response as possible based on the criteria set out above. Now that this detail has been gathered it will be maintained to prevent any such delay occurring in the future.
	I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women normally resident in East Dunbartonshire were serving in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such service personnel have served in each country in the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 9 May 2008
	Data on the UK residential location of armed forces personnel are not held centrally in databases of individual records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army are on active service in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan.

Bob Ainsworth: As at 31 March 2008, there were 512 members of the Territorial Army serving in the Afghanistan Joint Operational Area (JOA), and 122 in the Iraq JOA.

Joint Rapid Reaction Force

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 58W, on the Joint Rapid Reaction Force, which units will form the UK's commitment to the Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps from July to December 2008.

Des Browne: The Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a High Readiness Force (Land) assigned to NATO. Sixty per cent. of its established posts are found by the UK. Headquarters ARRC's intimate supporting elements are Headquarters 1 Signal Brigade, 252 Close Support Squadron, the ARRC Support Battalion and 12 Military Intelligence Company.

Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on providing the strategic airlift required to deploy the UK's commitment for NATO's Operational Reserve Force in Kosovo.

Bob Ainsworth: None. Our forward planning for this task will allow us to make maximum use of commercial charter aircraft.

Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment will be made available to the UK operational reserve battalion for its deployment to Kosovo.

Bob Ainsworth: Equipment to be made available to the UK Operational Reserve Battalion includes Snatch Land Rovers, standard Land Rovers, Saxon personnel carriers, 4-ton trucks, engineering equipment, battlefield ambulances, riot control equipment (including shields and batons), body armour, personal light weapons and communications equipment, along with general items such as fuel, food, personal kit, vehicle spares and ammunition.
	The overall need for airlift has been reduced by the pre-positioning of heavy equipment by road. Commercially chartered aircraft will be used for the transfer of personnel and further equipment wherever possible although some military aircraft have been allocated for use where necessary.

Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department has imposed a 65-tonne weight limit on commercial loads which can be handled on the Falklands Jetty at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre; when this limit was determined; whether its impact on the planning consent given for the construction plans for the new Marchwood Power Station was considered before the limit was laid down; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 9 May 2008
	An internal review of the Falklands Jetty at the Sea Mounting Centre (SMC) Marchwood was carried out in 2005. It was concluded that the Jetty can continue to routinely handle military and commercial loads weighing up to 65 tonnes. While requests for the Jetty to be used for heavier loads are still considered, these tend to be handled through alternative facilities at the SMC. The SMC holds no records to suggest it was involved in the planning considerations for the Power Station in 2001-02.
	Since Marchwood Power Limited started utilising the SMC in August 2007, the MOD has worked closely with the company to ensure that its requirements are met as practicably and safely as possible.

Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the weight limit is for military loads which can be handled on the Falklands Jetty at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre;
	(2)  what the weight was of the heaviest load handled on the Falkland Jetty at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 9 May 2008
	Since 2005, the heaviest piece of equipment that can routinely be handled from the Falklands Jetty is the military Challenger II tank, which weighs 65 tonnes. These vehicles are, however, usually loaded via Roll-On/Roll-Off facilities at the SMC's quayside. Requests for the Jetty to be used for heavier loads are still considered although these tend to be handled through alternative facilities at the Sea Mounting Centre. Prior to 2005, the heaviest load handled from the Falklands Jetty was a 215 tonne reactor in 2001.

Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment was made of the  (a) effect on traffic from the Port of Southampton to the Marchwood Power Station site and  (b) cost of delivering the main heavy plant for the power station by road, when the decision to impose a 65 tonne limit on commercial loads handled at the Falkland Jetty at the Sea Mounting Centre was taken;
	(2)  if he will instruct his Department to give permission for up to 12 loads to be delivered to the new Marchwood Power Station via the Sea Mounting Centre and exempted from the 65 tonne limit.

Bob Ainsworth: When the decision to impose a routine weight restriction of 65 tonnes for loads on the Falklands Jetty was made in 2005, no assessment was carried out by MOD of the effects on traffic or the cost of delivering such loads by road. This is because an alternative loading solution exists that involves the acceptance of heavier loads using a floating crane to lift them over the Sea Mounting Centre's quay wall either onto the quayside or waiting rail transportation. To date, some 36 loads for the Marchwood Power Station, weighing between 98 and 171 tonnes, have been moved in this way.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serviceable helicopters are available to  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force; and how many were available to each in 2005.

Bob Ainsworth: For the purposes of MOD reporting, a serviceable helicopter is defined as one that is used, is capable of being used or could be made ready for a period of two hours flying within a planned flying programme. Fit For Purpose is the metric that is used to measure serviceability, and the figures in the table represent the average Fit For Purpose figures for the month of March in each of the specified years. The numbers of helicopters that are considered to be Fit For Purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements, and does not include helicopters in transit.
	The number of serviceable helicopters available in the Forward Fleet for the month of March in 2005 and 2008, broken down by Service are shown as follows:
	
		
			   March 
			   2005  2008 
			  Royal Navy   
			 Sea King HC Mk 4 and 6 19 16 
			 Lynx Mk 3 16 12 
			 Lynx Mk 8 13 14 
			 Merlin Mk 1 10 13 
			 Sea King Mk 5 5 7 
			 Sea King Mk 7 6 4 
			 RN total 69 66 
			
			  Army Air Corps   
			 Apache AH Mk l 22 25 
			 Agusta A 109 3 3 
			 Lynx Mk 7 and 9 47 39 
			 Gazelle HC Mk 1 58 36 
			 AAC total 130 103 
			
			  Royal Air Force   
			 Chinook HC Mk 2 18 21 
			 Merlin HC Mk 3 6 8 
			 Puma MC Mk 1 19 13 
			 SAR Sea King Mk 3/3a Not available 18 
			 RAF total 43 60 
			 Total FFP 242 229 
		
	
	The figures for 2008 do not include the eight RAF Chinook Mark 3 helicopters that are being converted to a Battlefield role but do include three of the six RAF Merlin helicopters recently acquired from Denmark, as announced by the Secretary of State on 30 March 2007. The figures for 2008 also reflect the planned reductions in the Gazelle and Lynx Mk 7 fleets. The number of serviceable Apache will increase as the capability continues to be fielded.

Territorial Army: Manpower

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Territorial Army personnel are drawn from  (a) small,  (b) medium and  (c) large businesses.

Bob Ainsworth: Figures for the Territorial Army are not available separately from the rest of the Volunteer Reserve Forces (VRF). Latest data show that, of the 59 per cent. of VRF with employers:
	27 per cent. work for employers with one to nine employees
	26 per cent. work for employers with 10 to 49 employees
	23 per cent. work for employers with 50 to 200 employees
	10 per cent. work for employers with 200 to 500 employees
	14 per cent. work for employers with 500+ employees.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Overseas Aid

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was spent by his Department on aid programmes for Africa in each year since 2004, broken down by development objective.

Gillian Merron: Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure, both bilateral and multilateral, on aid programmes for Africa since 2004 is set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: UK total bilateral gross public expenditure (GPEX) on development to Africa 2004-05 to 2006-07, by sector 
			  £000 
			  Sector  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Education 125,471 136,345 157,340 
			 Health 173,165 199,822 221,070 
			 Social 60,627 98,863 93,845 
			 Economic 123,722 171,140 135,278 
			 Livelihoods 46,254 37,661 35,927 
			 Governance 121,169 153,548 159,491 
			 Environment 12,064 15,821 8,147 
			 Humanitarian Assistance 165,572 263,991 226,475 
			 Sector Unallocated 39,924 62,631 97,431 
			 
			 Total bilateral 867,969 1,139,822 1,135,002 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Imputed DFID share of multilateral official development assistance (ODA) 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  £000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Africa Multilateral 476,838 587,270 824,768 
		
	
	The DFID imputed share of multilateral ODA cannot be broken down by sector. A full statistical report of DFID's international development expenditure is published annually and may be found at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2007/contents.asp

Burma: Storms

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Burma following the recent cyclone; and what UK assistance has been offered to Burma;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to seek to ensure that humanitarian agencies are permitted access to cyclone-affected parts of Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made in the House on 8 May 2008,  Official Report, column 863.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is a member of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). The GCOF aims to fulfil the Government's commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central Government. It is available to all central Government Departments and provides a simple and cost-effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09).
	The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd. who won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 Certified Emission Reduction Credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits over three years from a range of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions Plc, to whom EEA is the investment adviser.
	DFID has to date contributed £175,741 to the scheme, paid during 2007-08 in respect of air travel during 2006-07.
	DFID is currently focussing its efforts on reducing carbon emissions from its estate, including the implementation of equipment and procedures to maximise energy efficiency equipment, which for instance has in recent months reduced our electricity consumption in our London Headquarters by over 10 per cent. We were also recently awarded the Energy Efficiency Accreditation certification. Once these measures have been implemented we will make appropriate arrangements to offset any residual carbon emissions.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1182W, on departmental data protection, if he will include information assurance data on data loss incidents in previous years in his Department's next annual report.

Shahid Malik: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179 and the written ministerial statement made my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data.
	The interim report of 17 December 2007 committed to put in place a programme to examine and improve data handling procedures. An update on this commitment will be included in the final report, expected in spring 2008, and this report will detail the information to be included by Departments on data loss in their annual reports

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the significance of policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to energy for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to the world's poorest countries.

Gareth Thomas: Our assessment is that policies to reduce energy-related carbon dioxide emissions need not limit efforts to improve energy access in the world's poorest countries; indeed these two objectives could in some instances be complementary.
	Policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions will include adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy. In the longer term it will require the use of emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage.
	In developing countries, improved access to reliable and affordable energy services is needed in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Energy access is lowest in rural areas, notably in sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia, often beyond the reach of grid-connected supplies. In these cases, decentralised energy production, using a wide range of renewable and conventional technologies, may offer the best solutions for increasing access to poor households and communities. A recent study by the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme concluded that renewable energy is more economical than conventional energy for many such applications.

Developing Countries: Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided for education in recent humanitarian responses in  (a) Kenya,  (b) Mozambique,  (c) Bangladesh and  (d) Chad.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided both direct and indirect support for education as part of its global response to recent humanitarian crises. In Bangladesh, the UK and other donors provided 400 temporary classrooms following the cyclone in November 2007. Other DFID-funded immediate relief helped to buy textbooks and other learning material for children in the affected areas, as well as providing technical support to help the Bangladesh Government develop a long-term school reconstruction plan.
	In Kenya, Mozambique and Chad direct support to education was not provided early on in the crises as DFID's humanitarian response aimed to address the most basic humanitarian needs first—shelter, food, clean water and health.
	UK humanitarian support is also provided through the UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) where DFID remains the largest donor. In 2006, the CERF released approximately £500,000 to UNICEF for education interventions in Chad. Of this allocation, the UK's share amounts to approximately £100,000. Since the start of 2008, Mozambique has been allocated £2.4 million from the CERF, with provisions used towards the education sector.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is for tackling HIV/AIDS in the developing world in the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Following a public consultation, the UK Government are currently updating "Taking Action - The UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world". The updated strategy is due to be launched in the near future.

Developing Countries: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government have taken to promote and protect human rights in developing countries.

Gillian Merron: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given to his previous question on 28 April,  Official Report, column 369W, which gives specific examples of how the UK Government have promoted human rights in developing countries.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office leads the Government's efforts to promote human rights abroad and the Department for International Development (DFID) supports this in developing countries. DFID provides funding to partner governments once assessments have been made to ensure they are committed to respecting human rights as well as reducing poverty and strengthening financial management and accountability. The UK Government policy on integrating human rights into development is set out in the DFID strategy paper: "Realising human rights for poor people", at
	www.dfid.gov.uk/publications

Drugs: Patents

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on patent pools for essential medicines.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government believe that there is merit in examining the benefits that voluntarily established patent pools could bring in facilitating access to medicines. The Department for International Development is participating in a process organised by UNITAID, the international drug purchase facility, which is examining the feasibility of establishing a patent pool for antiretroviral medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

Gaza: UN Relief and Works Agency

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department gives to the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed £100 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees in the region for the period 2007-12. This will increase our support from £15.6 million in 2007-08, to £19 million in 2008-09 and then progressively to £23.4 million in 2011-12. Around 10 per cent. of this funding is linked to UNRWA achieving targeted improvements of its management and service delivery.
	DFID funding helps UNRWA provide health, education and other services to 4.5 million Palestinian refugees, including over a million refugees in Gaza and over 700,000 in the West Bank. 70 per cent. of Gazans are registered refugees and will therefore benefit from the support we provide to UNRWA. We expect more than 30 per cent. of our funding to UNWRA to be allocated to Gaza.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of farmers in  (a) Forest of Dean constituency and  (b) England have not yet received their Single Farm Payment for (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 8 May 2008
	 Detailed analysis of all the payments made under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) is not yet available. Once the remaining scheme payments have been completed a decision will be taken on the level of detail that will be published.
	The proportion of English claimants who have not yet received SPS payments are:
	2005: 8
	2006: 45
	2007: 8.3 per cent.
	2005 and 2006 numbers are too low to register as meaningful percentages and the outstanding payments for these years relate to complex cases, mainly involving legal and probate issues.
	RPA is working to finalise remaining payments as soon as possible.

Air Pollution

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at how many sites in England levels of  (a) carbon monoxide,  (b) sulphur dioxide and  (c) nitrogen dioxide are monitored.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of sites monitoring levels of the pollutants is currently in flux due to preparations for the implementation of the EU Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe. The number of sites currently in operation is as follows:
	
		
			Number of sites 
			 (i) Carbon monoxide 26 
			 (ii) Sulphur dioxide 45 
			 (iii) Nitrogen dioxide 104 
		
	
	Once the directive monitoring requirements are fully implemented the number of sites will be:
	
		
			Number of sites 
			 (i) Carbon monoxide 26 
			 (ii) Sulphur dioxide 45 
			 (iii) Nitrogen dioxide 120

Air Pollution: EU Law

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the introduction of the EU Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions on the new ambient air quality directive.

Air Pollution: EU Law

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on changes to the UK automatic monitoring network in preparation for the introduction of the EU Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe.

Jonathan R Shaw: During the negotiation of the EU Directive on Ambient Air Quality and Cleaner Air for Europe, DEFRA undertook a review of the automatic monitoring networks taking into account the requirements of the directive.
	The changes to the Automatic Urban and Rural, and Hydrocarbons networks fall into three broad areas:
	(i) A reduction in the number of carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide monitors, commensurate with the generally low levels of both pollutants currently found. However, there will be increased sulphur dioxide monitoring in some areas around particular industrial hotspots.
	(ii) Movement of oxides of nitrogen monitors from agglomerations to zones, and from urban background to roadside.
	(iii) The creation of a PM2.5 network, and changes to the PM10 network. In addition to setting the minimum number of PM monitors to be operated, the directive specifies the ratio of PM10:PM2.5 and urban background: roadside sites which must be operated; in both cases this ratio must be between 2:1 and 1:2.
	This will result in:
	the closure or removal from the network of 20 complete sites
	the opening or affiliation into the network of 33 new sites (mainly for PM10/PM2.5 and oxides of nitrogen)
	the removal of 51 carbon monoxide analysers
	the removal of 32 and the addition of five sulphur dioxide analysers
	the movement and/or addition of 29 oxides of nitrogen sites
	the addition of 67 PM2.5 sites
	the movement and/or addition of 21 PM10 sites
	the movement of 11 benzene sites
	the removal of 13 and the addition of four ozone sites
	To date the following have been completed:
	the closure or removal from the network of 20 complete sites (from 1 October 2007).
	the dissemination of data from 51 carbon monoxide and 32 sulphur dioxide sites stopped on 1 October 2007.
	the addition of 17 local authority sites into the network; a further five sites will be brought into the network during May/June. For the remaining sites, work is ongoing to identify suitable local authority sites to bring into the network.
	the purchase of type approved gaseous analysers for DEFRA-owned sites to replace existing non-type approved equipment. These analysers will be installed during routine site visits during 2008.
	the installation of 22 reference method equivalent PM10 analysers and the procurement of 11 PM2.5 analysers.
	an OJEU notice has been published to procure the remainder of the particulate matter analysers.

Animals: MRSA

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to reduce the incidence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in animals.

Jonathan R Shaw: Methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has not been detected in farmed livestock in the UK and there is no current evidence that food-producing animals form a reservoir of infection in the UK. The organism has been isolated from dairy cows, pigs and chickens outside the UK, as well as in companion animals (including cats, dogs and horses) both in the UK and elsewhere. Ongoing monitoring of the international picture is being maintained. A 12-month long study to provide an initial overview of the presence of MRSA in breeding pig herds across Europe began in January 2008. This is being carried out under Community legislation. It is anticipated that the results of this study will be published in mid 2009 and that they will inform the direction of future work by DEFRA.
	DEFRA's Antimicrobial Resistance Co-ordination (DARC) Group continues to provide guidance on policy relating to antimicrobial resistance. The membership of the DARC Group reflects a partnership approach and includes representatives from many organisations involved in both human and animal health throughout the UK. DARC created a MRSA sub-group in 2005, through which DEFRA is assisting and encouraging various initiatives relating to MRSA from the Bella Moss Foundation (a UK registered charity promoting awareness of MRSA in animals), industry and the veterinary profession. DEFRA has funded research to better understand the epidemiology of MRSA in companion animals and livestock and any role it may play in human infections.
	In addition to chairing the DARC Group, DEFRA's Veterinary Medicines Directorate have used various means including legislation, publication of guidance and liaison with interested parties, such as the RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) alliance, to achieve a co-ordinated and integrated approach to raise awareness of the issues surrounding antimicrobial resistance in animals and promote the responsible use of antimicrobials.

Beekeeping

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of beekeeping to the agriculture sector; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Through their important role in pollinating flowering plants, honey bees make a vital contribution to sustainable agriculture. Reflecting this, DEFRA continues to fund a programme of controls and education for beekeepers via the National Bee Unit and the Bee Inspectorate.

Beekeeping

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution of research to the formulation of policy on beekeeping.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA's Bee Health Programme underpins bee health policy and covers work on exotic and statutory pests and diseases of bees. Research is carried out to fill gaps in the knowledge base used to support policy and to allow evidence-based policy decision making. The research should deliver results which can be used by Government and the craft of bee keeping in combating pests and diseases.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent trends in the bee population; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is too early to assess disease incidence this season although there are indications of some significant colony losses across the country. These are under investigation.

Bees: Disease Control

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Government is funding on  (a) acaricide-resistant varroa destructor and its associated viral diseases,  (b) European foulbrood,  (c) bee viruses and  (d) nosema.

Jonathan R Shaw: In 2008-09, the research programme will continue to focus on the development of a monitoring and surveillance system for the Small Hive Beetle ( Aethina tumida (Murray)) and assessing the effectiveness of the 'shook swarm' technique for the control of European Foul Brood (EFB). A three-year PhD studentship studying bee viruses, including those that are not transmitted by Varroa, which is based at the University of Surrey, will continue to build on recent progress.
	Last year, the National Bee Unit analysed samples for the two Nosema species known to infect bees,  Nosema apis and  Nosema ceranae. Both species are present in England and Wales, although exact details of the spread and prevalence of these species are currently unknown.
	No research is currently being carried out on  Varroa destructor. However, this has been identified as a potential future research priority in the draft Bee Health strategy, which has recently been published for public consultation.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Compensation

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons dairy non-pedigree calved females are valued more highly than pedigree calved females over 36 months in tabular valuations related to bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: To support table valuations, sales data are collected from a large number and wide range of sources across Great Britain. We capture around 98 per cent. of the sales data for cattle sold at public auction, and, in our view, the table valuations reflect the market situation for same category cattle. Table values are only applied for any category in any month if adequate amounts of data have been obtained. Otherwise individual valuation is used to establish market value.
	The non-pedigree table value has been higher than the pedigree value for the dairy calved female category on three occasions (between January and March 2008) since monthly table valuations for cattle compensation were introduced in February 2006. This reflected the underlying sales data that we received. I would stress that the approach we take is completely objective; sales data are not manipulated in any way.
	Non-pedigree table values are based on one month's data, whereas for pedigree categories we use six months' data to cover seasonal variability in pedigree trade and to obtain adequate amounts of sales data.

Carbon Emissions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of reductions necessary for each household from 2002 to 2050 assuming the current breakdown of carbon dioxide emissions between the different component elements for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by  (a) 60 per cent. and  (b) 80 per cent. to be achieved by 2050.

Phil Woolas: Under the Climate Change Bill, the Committee on Climate Change must provide its first advice to the Secretary of State before 1 December 2008. That advice must include recommendations on the levels of the first three budgets as well as on the level of the 2050 target. It must also refer to the sectors of the economy in which there are particular opportunities for contributions to be made towards meeting the carbon budget.
	The Government will consider the Committee's advice before announcing the first three budgets alongside fiscal Budget 2009. It is required to lay before Parliament a report on proposals and policies for meeting those budgets, including how they affect different sectors of the economy.
	The Government's existing package of measures in the household sector, as set out in the 2007 Energy White Paper, is designed to reduce UK household emissions to less than 30 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) from today's level of 40 MtC.

Cetaceans: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the UK has met its obligations under the EU by-catch regulation (EC) No. 812/2004; and what impact this has had on cetacean populations in UK waters.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK has reported on its implementation of EC 812/2004 in June 2006 and June 2007. As can be seen from these reports, we have fully met our obligation to monitor cetacean by-catch. This work is being carried out by the Sea Mammal Research Unit, and the annual reports of this research are published on the Departments website. However, technical problems with current designs have precluded full deployment of acoustic deterrent devices. No assessment has been made of the impact of these actions on cetacean populations in UK waters.

Cetaceans: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK vessels are using acoustic deterrent devices to reduce cetacean by-catch .

Jonathan R Shaw: Acoustic deterrent devices, "pingers", are required to be used in certain fisheries under Council Regulation (EC) 812/2004. Prior to enforcing the use of pingers, the UK Government wants to be sure that the pingers we recommend to be used are safe and cost-effective for the industry and offer maximum protection to porpoises. The European Commission has recognised that because of deployment problems, some member states are not able to implement pingers as required by the Council Regulation, and have recommended that member states should continue with trials to develop a working pinger. The Sea Mammal Research Unit are currently looking at the effects that a 'super-pinger' has on the population distribution of porpoises. These 'super-pingers' are larger and therefore fewer devices are required, reducing deployment problems. We will consider the results of this research when it becomes available. We are therefore not aware of how many UK vessels are currently using acoustic deterrent devices to reduce by-catch of cetaceans.

Cetaceans: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research on cetacean by-catch in UK waters his Department has commissioned.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department has implemented a comprehensive system of by-catch monitoring under the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive and Council Regulation 812/2004. The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) produces annual reports of this research for DEFRA, and these are published on the Department's website.
	Since 2000, the UK has put over £2 million into researching by-catch mitigation measures and monitoring by-catch on vessels through observers. This is to try to identify those fisheries responsible for high levels of cetacean by-catch and mitigation measures that are effective at deterring cetaceans over the long-term and are safe and cost-effective for the industry. We are due to receive the final report project on By-catch Mitigation Research from SMRU at the end of May. A new research contract on this issue has recently been agreed with SMRU.
	In 2003, the UK was the first member state to publish a cetacean by-catch response strategy for small cetaceans.

Cetaceans: South West

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the most recent available data on cetacean strandings in Cornwall and Devon.

Jonathan R Shaw: All data on Cetacean strandings across the UK, up to and including the 2006 data, are publicly available on the Defra website in the form of UK Cetacean strandings investigation programme (CSIP) Annual reports:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/.
	The 2007 Annual report is currently being drafted and will be available on the website in the near future.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its predecessors spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Phil Woolas: Figures currently available cover 2005-06 (where applicable) and 2006-07. Data are currently being collected for the 2007-08 reporting year and will be available later in the year.
	DEFRA has paid £60,014.07 into the GCOF, to offset some 6,056tCO2 equivalent from a variety of sources from April 2005 to April 2007.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) surveys,  (b) questionnaires and  (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in financial year 2007-08, broken down by company.

Jonathan R Shaw: This information is not held centrally, and so the following information is what could be gathered without disproportionate cost. It lists the surveys, questionnaires and other services conducted by third parties which received funding from Defra and which sought opinion, and which were provided in completed and agreed form during the financial year 2007-08.
	
		
			  Company which conducted it  Title of report 
			 2CV Natural Environment Message Testing Research 
			 British Market Research Bureau ACT ON CO2 climate change campaign, post tracking 
			 British Market Research Bureau Chewing Gum Action Group Campaign evaluation 
			 British Market Research Bureau Public awareness of personal food imports 
			 British Market Research Bureau Public Attitudes Towards Farmers 
			 TNS Omnibus Omnibus research into Awareness of Endangered Species Trade 
			 British Market Research Bureau Survey of public attitudes and behaviour in relation to the environment 
			 Brook Lyndhurst Public Understanding of Sustainable Energy Use in the Home 
			 Centre for Sustainable Energy Distributional Impacts of Personal Carbon Trading 
			 CML Market Research Food Campaign—Message Research 
			 Cognition Market Intelligence VMD Customer Feedback Survey 
			 Continental Research Business Attitudes to Resource Efficiency 
			 Creative Research Rabies Restrictions Review Consumer Workshops 
			 Edcomms Natural Environment Communications Desk Research 
			 Entec UK Ltd. Understanding the barriers to flood resilience 
			 GfK NOP Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) Awareness Raising Campaign tracking research 
			 I ICM Climate Change Tracking Wave 6. Omnibus survey covering public knowledge and attitudes to climate change 
			 ICM Climate Change Tracking Wave 5. Omnibus survey covering public knowledge and attitudes to climate change 
			 IFF Research Illegal Foods Campaign Tracking 2006-07 
			 Ipsos MORI Public Understanding of Sustainable Finance and Investment 
			 Ipsos MORI Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) Research 
			 Ipsos MORI Attitudes to use of organic waste on agricultural land 
			 Jigsaw Research Defra: Engaging The Business Community in Environmental Issues 
			 Kate Willis Fallen Stock Sheep Farmers Research 
			 Marketing Synergie International Illegal Food Imports Creative Development. 
			 MVA consultancy, commissioned by Consumer Council for Water on behalf of the Water Saving Group Campaigns to make a difference: Research into identifying water saving messages 
			 Navigator Waste Infrastructure Research. 
			 Opinion Leader and Enviros Consulting Personal Carbon Trading: Public Acceptability 
			 Opinion Leader Research Public Understanding of Sustainable Consumption of Food 
			 Opinion Leader Research Citizen summit on climate change 
			 Research Works Personal food imports Filler testing 
			 Scott Wilson Public Understanding of Sustainable Transport 
			 Social Research and Consultancy Consumer attitudes to water efficiency of bathroom fittings: analysis of quantitative research 
			 University of Exeter Contemporary livestock farming and watercourse pollution: a citizen's jury approach 
			 University of Gloucestershire, CCRI and MLURI Understanding and influencing positive behaviour change in farmers and rural land managers 
			 University of Reading Survey into farmers attitudes toward a TB cattle vaccine 
			 University of Surrey Public Understanding of Sustainable Leisure and Tourism

Disabled

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets his Department has set in relation to its employment of people with disabilities over the next five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: We have not set targets in relation to the employment of people with disabilities, other than for the senior civil service. Our target for 31 March 2008 was 3 per cent. and we achieved 2.6 per cent.
	However in an earlier response to the Baroness Byford on 23 October 2007,  Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA98-99, we highlighted that our disabled employee representation had increased across the Defra network over the last year.
	Our workforce information tells us that about 6 per cent. of our staff have declared that they are disabled. However, disability declaration is voluntary and we believe that the actual number of disabled people in the Defra workforce is in fact higher.
	In developing our new disability equality scheme our disabled and deaf staff have told us that they lack confidence in the fairness of recruitment processes for disabled and deaf people. To address the concerns raised we intend to review our recruitment and selection policies and processes and improve the monitoring of the whole process to identify and eliminate barriers that disabled and deaf people may experience in securing work with Defra.
	Our diversity team supports the business to ensure that the Defra workforce is representative of the wider community. We have set up a Disability Equality Scrutiny and Advisory Group made up of independent disabled experts to monitor and advise on our progress against our action plans.

Dogger Bank: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to protect the Dogger Bank as an offshore special area of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.

Jonathan R Shaw: Dogger Bank has been identified as a draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive Annex III Stage 1 selection criteria. Draft SACs (dSACs) are areas that have been formally advised to the UK Government as suitable for selection as SACs, but have not been formally approved by Government as sites for public consultation. Further information in support of the recommendation is currently being gathered.

Elephants: Conservation

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what initiatives the Government  (a) funds directly and  (b) otherwise supports for the protection and conservation of elephants; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Elephants are at risk from a number of factors including habitat destruction, poaching for ivory and human-elephant conflict. The UK supports several measures to tackle these threats internationally.
	Through its membership of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) the UK works to protect endangered species of plants and animals at threat from trade by controlling and monitoring international trade in them. Since 2005 the UK has made payments to support the work of the Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) and has been funding the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) since 2003-04. These programmes will enable the international community to monitor whether the sale of legally stockpiled ivory has an effect on the amount of poaching and illegal global trade. Since 2003-04, the UK has also supported the work of the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group (AfESG) and in May 2007 allocated £10,000 to support elephant dialogue meetings.
	In addition, DEFRA's Darwin Initiative contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biodiversity. Over the last five years to 2008 funding for the programme has increased from 3 million to 7 million per annum, we will be announcing a new Round soon. To date the Darwin Initiative has funded 464 projects in over 130 countries. A number of these have specifically focused on the protection and conservation of elephants, including building capacities for mitigating human-elephant conflict in Assam and Kenya.

Environment Protection: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations he has received on the use of land owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for improvements to the A130 Canvey Way.

Joan Ruddock: My Department has received no such representations.

Fisheries: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what capacity his Department has to assess what fishing takes place in the proposed offshore special areas of conservation sites at  (a) Braemar Pockmarks,  (b) Scanner Pockmark,  (c) North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef,  (d) Haig Frais,  (e) Stanton Banks,  (f) Darwin Mounds and  (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) assesses fishing that takes place in the proposed offshore special areas of conservation and has access to sightings data collected from both aerial and surface surveillance units (namely fishery protection aircraft and the Royal Navy vessels within the Fishery Protection Squadron). The MFA also has access to satellite monitoring data but this is only in relation to vessels over 15 m in length, transmitting their positions every two hours.
	The MFA can also access fisheries statistics in relation to species caught and landed from a particular area via the Fisheries Statistical Unit to the level of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) statistical rectangles.

Fisheries: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the  (a) actual and  (b) potential environmental damage or risk of environmental damage from fishing and related activities within the proposed offshore special areas of conservation sites at (i) Braemar Pockmarks, (ii) Scanner Pockmark, (iii) North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef, (iv) Haig Frais, (v) Stanton Banks, (vi) Darwin Mounds and (vii) Wyville Thomson Ridge.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Joint Nature Conservation Council made the following assessments of the impacts of fishing on the condition of the proposed offshore special areas of conservation (SAC) sites as part of the Offshore Marine Natura consultation process, which took place in 2007.
	 Braemar Pockmarks
	The biological and physical structure of the interest feature at the Braemar pockmarks site are known to have been partially impacted by bottom trawling. This has dispersed, fragmented and possibly buried some of the carbonate formations, and may also have modified the structure of the encircling pockmarks (John Hartley, pers. comm., 2005). However, much of the interest feature is still intact.
	The prospects of this feature in terms of maintaining its structure in the future (taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort) are good. A mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area if this is deemed to be necessary.
	 Scanner Pockmark
	The biological and physical structure of the habitat at the Scanner pockmark site is intact on the available evidence but may have been impacted by bottom trawling for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) (the main commercial demersal stock in the Witch Ground). Bottom trawling could have modified the structure of the pockmark, causing burial of some of the submarine structures, as well as breaking and displacement of carbonate pieces. Some fishing nets were observed caught on the structures. However, the feature appears to be largely undamaged.
	The prospects of this feature to maintain its structure in the future, taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort, are good. A mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area if this is deemed to be necessary.
	 North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef
	The biological and physical structure of the North Norfolk Sandbanks have been impacted locally by some gas extraction infrastructure and aggregate extraction. It is also possible that the fauna of the banks have been impacted by bottom trawling, which may have reduced the number of long-lived or fragile organisms associated with the interest feature. The physical structure of the banks is intact, if not pristine, and the biology is representative of the habitat.
	The prospects of this feature to maintain its structure in the future, taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort, are good. Regulations are in place to control oil and gas activity in and around SACs in the UK continental shelf designated area and developments are subject to appropriate assessment if they are likely to affect the features of a SAC. A mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area if this is deemed to be necessary. The aggregates industries' operations are currently subject to environmental assessment, and would be subject to appropriate assessment if likely to affect SAC interest features.
	 Haig Fras
	Available evidence indicates that the biological and physical structure of the reef interest feature at Haig Fras are intact (Rees, 2000).
	The prospects of this feature to maintain its structure in the future (taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort) are good, since the basic physical structure is resilient to mechanical impacts and the reef is isolated from terrestrial sources of pollution. Due to the shape of the feature, it is likely to be avoided by bottom trawlers which could damage the reef fauna. However, a mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area if this is deemed to be necessary.
	 Stanton Banks
	The biological and physical structure of the reef habitat at Stanton Banks is intact to the best of our knowledge.
	The prospects of this feature in terms of maintaining its structure in the future (taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort) are excellent. A mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area if this is deemed to be necessary.
	 Darwin Mounds
	The biological and physical structure of the biogenic reef in this area is mainly intact although some areas have been damaged by bottom trawling. Evidence of damage was provided from sidescan sonar images in 1999 (Bett, 1999). New damage (smashed coral strewn on the sea bed) was also visible over about a half of the Darwin Mounds East during summer 2000 (Bett, 2001). A trawler was operating nearby during the surveys. Reef damage means a loss of not only the habitat itself, but the species assemblages it supports.
	The prospects of this feature to maintain its structure in the future, taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort, are moderate. The European Commission, at the request of the UK, has adopted common fisheries policy measures which prohibit the use of bottom trawling gear within the SAC boundary. However, it is possible that some further bottom trawling may have occurred in the months before these common fisheries policy measures were in place. Equally, it is possible that illegal fishing activities take place on this site. Therefore, this feature could be degraded by fisheries in spite of reasonable conservation effort.
	 Wyville Thomson Ridge
	The biological and physical structure of habitats on Wyville Thomson Ridge is intact on the basis of available evidence, although some scarring from bottom trawling has been observed.
	The prospects of this feature to maintain its structure in the future, taking into account unfavourable influences and reasonable conservation effort, are good. A mechanism is available through the European Commission's common fisheries policy regulations to modify fishing activity in the area, if this is deemed to be necessary.

Fisheries: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what ongoing monitoring of potential damage from fishing and related activities he plans to undertake in the proposed offshore special areas of conservation sites at  (a) Braemar Pockmarks,  (b) Scanner Pockmark,  (c) North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef,  (d) Haig Frais,  (e) Stanton Banks,  (f) Darwin Mounds and  (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge.

Jonathan R Shaw: Monitoring of fishing activities in the proposed Special Areas of Conservation (pSACs) sites is undertaken on the basis of a risk-based programme of monitoring and enforcement, including the use of inspections on land and at sea. This will often be in conjunction with enforcement in respect of fishing activity, though not exclusively, because other marine activities are also required to comply with the Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007.
	The enforcement programme will seek to identify those areas where there is the highest probability of offences occurring and to prioritise resources to those areas to ensure compliance. Intelligence information will also be used when it becomes available from any reliable source.

Fisheries: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to prevent fishing activity if the Joint Nature Conservation Committee advises that fishing damages or has the potential to damage the proposed offshore special areas of conservation sites at  (a) Braemar Pockmarks,  (b) Scanner Pockmark,  (c) North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef,  (d) Haig Frais,  (e) Stanton Banks,  (f) Darwin Mounds and  (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge; and how he plans to prevent environmental damage from fishing and related activities at each site.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007 ensure that certain activities that have an effect on important species and habitats in the offshore marine environment can be controlled. The regulations apply in the "offshore area" beyond 12 nautical miles from the UK coast. They protect marine habitats, species and wild birds, through a number of offences.
	The regulations take account of the fact that the regulation of commercial fishing activities is conducted in the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (as the European Community has exclusive competence). Where measures are necessary to control commercial fishing activities to meet the conservation objectives of an offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) the UK will work with the European Commission to deliver proportionate and effective measures through CFP regulation.

Fisheries: Fuels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the effects of fuel prices on competitiveness in the industry.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 May 2008
	I am always pleased to meet representatives of the fishing industry and do so on a regular basis. I have recently agreed to meet with representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations to discuss fuel prices.

Fisheries: Fuels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research on the effects of fuel prices on competitiveness in the fishing industries.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 9 May 2008
	The price of fuel is one of the factors taken into account in formulating policy intended to maximise the competitiveness of the UK fishing industry. I have no plans to commission research into the effects of fuel prices in isolation.

Fisheries: Special Areas of Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department holds of fishing in marine waters at the proposed offshore special areas of conservation sites at  (a) Braemar Pockmarks,  (b) Scanner Pockmark,  (c) North Norfolk sandbanks and Saturn reef,  (d) Haig Frais,  (e) Stanton Banks,  (f) Darwin Mounds and  (g) Wyville Thomson Ridge.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Joint Nature Conservation Council (JNCC) is required to prepare Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations as after sites are submitted to the European Commission. Subsequently, for each of the offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) subject to consultation in 2007-2008, it has prepared draft documents which include information on the impact of fishing. This information has been compiled making use of existing knowledge and in consultation with various Government Departments and agencies who hold such information, including the Marine Fisheries Agency and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

Fisheries: Subsidies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to subsidise fuel for British fishing fleets; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 8 May 2008
	 It is not Government policy to subsidise fuel costs, including for commercial fishing vessels. Such subsidies can lead to over capacity, distort business decisions, act against the long term interests of the industry, can be discriminatory, and are not sustainable.
	The emphasis of any aid to the fishing industry should be on building a sustainable future and that is where we are directing our efforts.

Floods: Compensation

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether  (a) homeowners,  (b) tenants,  (c) businesses and  (d) farmers are eligible to apply for compensation for flood damage in Selsey.

Phil Woolas: There is no general compensation scheme for those who are uninsured, not least because it would be unfair to those who paid for cover. Also, flood defences are provided under permissive powers; there is no legal obligation on the Government to protect property to any given standard, or at all. This has been the policy of successive Governments.
	While compensation is not payable for those affected by flooding, grants and loans are available from the Department for Work and Pensions to help those in most need following flooding.

Floods: Research

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) research studies and  (b) reviews have been commissioned by his Department into the flooding in summer 2007; who commissioned them; who is carrying them out; and how much they will cost.

Phil Woolas: A review of the flooding, its causes and subsequent management including recovery issues, was commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. This is being led by the independent Chair Sir Michael Pitt, and being carried out by the Cabinet Office with support from DEFRA and CLG. Until the Review has been concluded, we will not have final costings.

Floods: Thames Gateway

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote the development of an integrated approach by local authorities, developers, highways authorities and water companies to the management of storm water within the Thames Gateway growth area; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Planning Policy Statement 25 on Development and Flood Risk promotes the strategic consideration of flood risk at all levels of the planning process. This is done through a constructive partnership approach between local planning authorities, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders, in the early consideration of, and planning for, new development in flood risk areas.
	In the Thames Gateway, strategic flood risk assessments, which are co-ordinated by the Environment Agency, are providing all stakeholders with a common understanding of risk from all forms of flooding.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on genetically modified crops; and what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on genetically modified crops and developing countries.

Phil Woolas: Defra has received a range of representations on GM crops, and we keep in close touch with the Department for International Development on any cross-cutting issues to do with the use of GM crops in developing countries.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Energy Saving Trust on the launch of the Green Homes Service.

Phil Woolas: We have had a variety of discussions with the Energy Saving Trust on the issue of the Green Homes Service, at both ministerial and official level.

Landfill Tax: Fly-tipping

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on fly-tipping of the landfill tax escalator.

Joan Ruddock: No formal assessment has been made.
	However, the Government are monitoring levels of fly-tipping and ways in which the effects can be mitigated. In April 2004, the Flycapture database was set up to help local authorities and the Environment Agency improve information on the scale of fly-tipping and to help focus resources and identify trends in this growing environmental crime. Flycapture is enabling central and local government to demonstrate the true nature, extent and scale of fly-tipping, both nationally and locally. The data are being used to develop more effective, evidence-based policies and strategies.
	DEFRA also funded a research report by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science into the causes and incentives of fly-tipping. The report concludes that there is not one cause of fly-tipping but a number of separate ones.
	Assessing the specific effect of the landfill tax on fly-tipping would be extremely difficult, not least because there are a number of different causes of fly-tipping, some of which may need to coincide before a person decides to act illegally. Fly-tipping levels also reflect the level of enforcement and other prevention activity undertaken by the Environment Agency and local authorities, which can offset any increase in illegal activity.
	Although the research recognises that one of these causes may be the cost of legitimate waste disposal, the landfill tax is an important instrument in reducing our reliance on landfill and moving to more sustainable waste management options. The actual increases, together with the knowledge of the future rate of tax, is sending a strong signal. This will change behaviour, while allowing business time to adjust and make the necessary investment in alternative waste treatment routes.

Leisure: Staffordshire

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the levels of amenity available to the residents of the parishes of Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has no responsibility for the provision of local amenities and therefore has made no such assessment.

Nature Reserves: West Sussex

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the plans of Natural England and the Environment Agency to flood areas of Medmerry; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Natural England has no powers to decide flood defence policy. The Environment Agency has not published any plans to flood areas of land behind the Medmerry coastline. The draft Pagham to East Head Coastal Defence Strategy will make an assessment of the impacts of all options in accordance with DEFRA guidance. The options will include changes to land use as a result of managed realignment of the coastline. The draft strategy is due to be issued for public consultation at the end of May.

Nature Reserves: West Sussex

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the financial value of the palaeontological remains in the on-shore cliffs at the Medmerry frontage.

Joan Ruddock: There have been a number of attempts to put a financial value on wildlife assets, all of which have encountered problems. To date, as far as we are aware, no one has attempted to do this for palaeontological assets generally, let alone for those present at the Medmerry frontage.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish a response to the consultation on nitrate vulnerable zones; what the next steps will be; and when he expects to announce the Government's policy.

Phil Woolas: We intend to announce and publish our response to the nitrate vulnerable zones consultation before Parliament breaks for summer recess. This will include a summary of what the Department plans to do as a result of the consultation responses.

Nitrogen Oxides

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK meets its targets for the reduction of nitrogen oxides by 2010 under the EU national emissions ceiling directive and the UN Gothenburg protocol.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK reported in December 2007 for the first time that the 2010 national emission ceiling for nitrogen oxides (NOx) was likely to be exceeded by some 10 per cent. Though there remain considerable uncertainties with the projections, the increase is a consequence of changes in projections of emissions from energy production, and an improved methodology for predicting emissions from non-road transport mobile sources and machinery. We have commissioned a study to examine options for improving the prospects of achieving compliance, which will be finalised early in May 2008.

Pollution Control

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what factors were taken into account in setting the fee levels for pollution prevention and control permits; what the cost of administering the permit scheme is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of a Pollution Prevention and Control permit in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: There are three categories of pollution prevention and control permits: IPPC permits issued by the Environment Agency, IPPC permits issued by local authorities, and air pollution control permits issued by local authorities.
	DEFRA (for the latter two categories) and the Environment Agency consult annually on the level of fees and charges for the coming financial year. Those consultations cover the factors taken into account and regulatory costs.
	Papers for this year's DEFRA consultation, which closed on 4 January, are available on the DEFRA website. The Environment Agency consultation closed on 7 December, and the papers are available on the Environment Agency website.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements he has agreed with regional development agencies and Natural England to account for exchange rate variations.

Jonathan R Shaw: Budgets for Regional Development Agencies and Natural England are set in sterling. Exchange rate variations have no immediate impact on these bodies. However, DEFRA is working closely with the delivery bodies and the paying agency, the Rural Payments Agency, to manage and account for the total resources for the Rural Development for England Programme over the seven-year programming period.

Rural Areas: Finance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much EU funding was provided for the individual axes of the European Rural Development Programme for England, expressed in euro; what the sterling equivalent was at the time the sum was settled; and what it is at the most recent exchange rate.

Jonathan R Shaw: The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) contribution to the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is set in euros. Details are set out in the financial tables of the programme document, which was approved by the European Commission in December 2007. The sums are:
	
		
			  € 
			 Total EAFRD 3,217,464,635 
			 of which:  
			 Axis 1 344,877,726 
			 Axis 2 2,441,251,505 
			 Axis 3 269,018,937 
			 Axis 4 160,894,083 
			 Technical assistance 1,422,384 
		
	
	At the time of programme approval, the exchange rate was 0.71475. Sterling equivalents as at December were therefore:
	
		
			  £ 
			 Total EAFRD budget 2,299,682,847 
			 of which:  
			 Axis 1 246,501,355 
			 Axis 2 1,744,884,513 
			 Axis 3 192,281,285 
			 Axis 4 114,999,046 
			 Technical assistance 1,016,649 
		
	
	The current exchange rate is 0.78895, as specified by the European Commission and used to convert EAFRD payments for May 2008.

Rural Areas: Finance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how often his Department draws down funding for the European Rural Development Programme from the EU; and what exchange rate is used to allocate that funding to the regional development agencies and Natural England.

Jonathan R Shaw: The EU funding is paid in arrears, following receipt of a claim for reimbursement from the Rural Payments Agency. The claim for reimbursement is submitted on a quarterly basis in Euros.
	Budgets for the Regional Development Agency and Natural England Rural Development Programme for England are allocated by DEFRA, in sterling. The Regional Development Agencies and Natural England are responsible for committing the expenditure, but payments to beneficiaries and claims for reimbursement from the European Commission are made by the Rural Payments Agency, the Paying Agency for the Programme. Expenditure commitment details are provided by the Regional Development Agencies and Natural England, in Sterling, to the Rural Payments Agency, which makes the payments in sterling. It is the responsibility of the Rural Payments Agency to convert the sterling payments into euro claims for reimbursement from the European Commission. The exchange rate used is set by the European Central Bank rate, on the last but one day in the month before the payments were made.

Rural Areas: Finance

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he has allocated to the European Rural Development Programme from UK funds as matched funding; and what effect changes in the euro/sterling exchange rate will have on that sum.

Jonathan R Shaw: The total Exchequer budget (matched funding) for the RDPE 2007-2013 is £1,682 million. Fluctuations in exchange rates will not affect this sum. Under Council Regulation 1698/2005, the Rural Development Regulation, any unspent European funds may be rolled forward by up to two calendar years following the year in which they were originally allocated. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations can therefore be managed over the seven-year programming period as a whole.

Sea Mammal Research Unit

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University plays in UK marine policy.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) is an independent research centre, and is used by Defra as a contractor to provide scientific research and monitoring. The unit is currently responsible for monitoring cetacean by-catch under the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive and Council Regulation 812/2004, and for developing mitigation measures to reduce the by-catch of marine mammals.
	SMRU is also a member of the Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas Evidence Group, one of the groups falling under the umbrella of the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy. Defra is committed to evidence-based policy development, and therefore scientific evidence and information derived from monitoring initiatives such as this plays an important role.

Sea Mammal Research Unit: Finance

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he provides to the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at St. Andrews University; what proportion of the work carried out by the SMRU relates to whaling; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Defra has committed £35,555 for the period 2008-09 for the research project entitled "Conservation of whales and the management of whaling". The project is being taken forward by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU).
	This project forms the basis for UK representation on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Scientific Committee. Its overall aim is to provide independent scientific advice to Defra and the IWC, through its Scientific Committee, on matters related to the conservation of large and small cetacean populations and the management of whaling and other human-induced mortality, thus informing policy. The results are intended for Defra, the IWC and the wider scientific community.
	The work which comprises this project will enable the scientific interests of the IWC to be pursued by: assisting the IWC Scientific Committee to provide the best possible advice to the Commission; providing scientific advice to Defra on IWC-related matters; summarising UK cetacean research in the annual National Progress Report to the IWC; and ensuring a high standard of publications in the IWC Journal of Cetacean Research and Management.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the percentage of UK waters that would need to be turned into no-take marine reserves to  (a) preserve biodiversity within the UK's marine environment and  (b) help fish stocks recover from over-fishing.

Jonathan R Shaw: Our objective is to designate an ecologically coherent network of well-managed marine protected areas by 2012. Various figures have been suggested for the proportion of our seas that might need to be protected to achieve that aim. These figures have been based on a range of assumptions and criteria. They have also been produced without the benefit of the detailed work which we have asked the statutory nature conservation agencies to undertake with stakeholders. At this stage, and without the detailed work having been carried out, we think it would be wrong to set a fixed target for the proportion of the sea which needs to be protected in order to achieve our conservation objectives.

Seas and Oceans: EU Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how he plans to comply with the UK's mandatory obligations in relation to the marine environment under the EU Habitats Directive.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 ("The Habitats Regulations") transpose council directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (EC habitats directive) into national law. The Habitats Regulations apply as far as the limit of territorial waters (12 nautical miles from baseline) and allow the UK to meet its mandatory obligations under the habitats directive in this area.
	DEFRA introduced the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations in 2007 to comply with the UK's mandatory obligations under both the EU habitats and wild birds directives beyond UK territorial waters.

Tobacco: EU Grants and Loans

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in 2007 by the EU to subsidise tobacco production in member states.

Jonathan R Shaw: The EU expenditure for tobacco premiums in 2007 was €335.5 million.

UK Emissions Trading Scheme

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the level of funds likely to be generated by the auctioning of allowances under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme in each year from 2008 to 2012; and how the funds will be disbursed.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 21 April 2008
	The UK is a participant in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, where it will auction 7 per cent. of its total allowances in Phase II (2008-12), amounting to approximately 85 million allowances. Revenues from auctions will depend on market conditions at the time of auction. The Government do not make price predictions and has not therefore made an estimate of likely auction revenues. Revenues from auctions will go to the Consolidated Fund.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations have been made to his Department on  (a) charges for the collection of household waste and  (b) regulations regarding powers to fine in relation to household waste offences, by police forces, police authorities or those representing them.

Joan Ruddock: No such representations have been received.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been issued to waste collection authorities by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action Programme on (a) closed lid and (b) no-side waste collections.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 869W.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for the introduction and commencement of joint waste authorities.

Joan Ruddock: Powers to create joint waste authorities (JWA) commenced on 27 March 2008 under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 (Commencement No. 5 and Transitional, Saving and Transitory Provision) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 2008/917).
	Secondary legislation is required to establish the application details for becoming a JWA. This is currently subject to a consultation, available on DEFRA's website, with a closing date of 9 June. After the consultation has been completed, we expect that the regulations will be laid in Parliament and finalised during autumn/winter 2008.

Waste Management: Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of likely trends in the numbers of waste collection authorities operating commingled collections.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA has made no assessment of the future use of different recycling collection services. Decisions on local waste collection and recycling services are rightly for individual local authorities to make in close consultation with their residents. Government strongly encourages local authorities to use good practice and to consider the overall carbon impact of their collection services. The Waste and Resources Action Programme provides local authorities with advice on good practice.

Whales: International Cooperation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Prime Minister discussed possible legal action by Australia against Japan on whaling at his recent meeting with the Australian Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Whaling was not discussed at this meeting. However, I recently spoke to the hon. Peter Garrett MP, Australian Minister for the Environment about whether legal action might reasonably be pursued and if so, how. I understand Australia is currently considering what, if any, legal avenues are available to challenge Japan's whaling operations. I assured Mr. Garrett that we would be prepared to examine carefully any suggestions that the Australian government might feel able to make in the light of those considerations.
	We also discussed the meeting I held with the Japanese deputy ambassador on 8 January to express the UK's outrage over Japan's 'scientific' whaling activities. I assured Mr. Garrett that I had left Japan in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the UK on the issue and that the UK government will continue to make our opposition to whaling known to Japan at every appropriate opportunity.
	We also discussed the recent seminar on commercial whaling I attended in Copenhagen on 10 March. The event was co-hosted by the British embassy and the Society for the Conservation of Marine Mammals. The aim was to raise awareness among the Danish public of the cruel and unsustainable nature of whaling and to attempt to persuade Denmark to take a more pro-conservationist approach at this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.
	I confirmed the UK will once again play an important role in the conservation and protection of cetaceans at the next annual meeting of the IWC to be held in Santiago, Chile in June 2008. We agreed our countries would continue to be at the forefront of the fight to ensure that countries seeking to remove protection for cetacean species around the world do not succeed.

White Fish

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vessels from  (a) the UK and  (b) other EU countries are involved in the pair trawling fishery for bass in the Western Channel.

Jonathan R Shaw: Current information indicates that there is only one UK bass pair-trawler operating in the Western Channel at present. We do not hold information on pair-trawlers from other member states.

PRIME MINISTER

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions  (a) he and  (b) his special advisers have attended (i) conferences and (ii) meetings where (A) abortion and (B) euthanasia were discussed in each of the last six months; on what dates such conferences and meetings took place; where each took place; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: My officials and I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

Constitutions

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on referendums on the future of the constitution of the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government Equalities Office plans to publish its sustainable operations policy statement.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office is a small department based in Eland House in London, the Communities and Local Government headquarters building. Sustainable operations policy relates mainly to assessing, reporting and improving performance in managing land and buildings sustainably, and GEO, as a tenant of CLG, is party to CLG's sustainable operations policy and practices and has no plans to develop its own policy.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education: Kettering

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will meet the hon. Member for Kettering and local authority representatives to discuss the provision of a university in Kettering.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 31 March 2008
	I am delighted by the interest that our new university challenge has generated. This policy offers towns and cities the opportunity to unlock the potential in their area by working with those involved in regeneration and economic planning to provide locally-based HE provision. The Secretary of State has agreed to meet a delegation from Kettering to discuss these issues.

Teachers: Training

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of those universities which offer a degree in teaching provide special educational needs teacher training at  (a) undergraduate and  (b) postgraduate level.

Bill Rammell: All universities which offer initial teacher training courses provide special educational needs teacher training at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

OLYMPICS

Apprentices: Olympic Games Sites

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what additional training opportunities for apprentices will be available on London Olympic Games sites during the construction phase.

Tessa Jowell: The Games give us a tremendous opportunity to create a lasting skills legacy. The Olympic Delivery Authority, together with its partners, aim to get at least 2,000 people (approximately 4 per cent. of the workforce) into trainee apprenticeships and work placements up to 2012 on the Olympic Park and other venues. This will benefit local people, including previously workless people.

Contracts: Companies Outside London

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what percentage of contracts for the 2012 London Olympic Games have been awarded to companies based outside London.

Tessa Jowell: 46 per cent. of the Olympic Delivery Authority's contracts to date have been awarded to businesses based outside of London. This includes 2 per cent. of the total which was awarded to overseas businesses.

Nottingham

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what assessment she has made of the effects of the 2012 London Olympic Games on Nottingham.

Tessa Jowell: Nottingham stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 Games, in the same way as other towns, cities and regions across the UK. Over the next four years I want to see all parts of the UK taking advantage of the sporting, cultural, economic and other opportunities that will be available.
	I understand that the ODA has already awarded 27 contracts to companies registered in the East Midlands and 26 facilities from the region are included in the official pre-Games Training Camp Guide.

2012 Olympic Games: Housing

Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps are being taken to ensure the housing built for the 2012 Olympic Games will be made available to local people for affordable rent or purchase after the Games have taken place.

Tessa Jowell: At least 30 per cent. of the homes created from construction of the Olympic Village will be affordable. We want the legacy housing to be mixed tenure, available to a wide range of people, including those from existing local communities, to create new, diverse, sustainable neighbourhoods. The allocation of affordable homes after the Games will be agreed between the relevant London boroughs and the Housing Corporation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Arrests

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested for,  (b) proceeded against for and  (c) convicted of the offence of being drunk and disorderly in 2006.

Jacqui Smith: The Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform—within the Ministry of Justice, shows that the number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts for the offence of drunk and disorderly under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 S.91(1) in England and Wales for the year 2006 is 16,143. The number of people found guilty at all courts for the same offence is 13,939.
	In addition, under the penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme, fixed penalty notices of £80 may be issued by the police for the offence of 'drunk and disorderly'. The number of PNDs issued for the offence in England and Wales was 43,556 in 2006.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have received  (a) a fine,  (b) an antisocial behaviour order,  (c) a community sentence and  (d) another penalty after being convicted for purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person aged under 18 years in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 April 2008
	The number of persons fined, issued with a community sentence and given another penalty after being convicted of purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person aged under 18 years in each year since 1997 can be viewed in the following table.
	The Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) collection held by my Department does not contain information on offences committed which resulted in an ASBO being issued. It is therefore not possible from this collection to provide information on the number of persons issued with an ASBO as a result of purchasing alcohol on behalf of a person aged under 18 years.
	
		
			  N umber of persons fined, issued with a community sentence and given another penalty after conviction at all courts for certain alcohol related offences( 1) , England and Wales for the years 1997 to 2006( 2, 3) 
			   Purchase alcohol for a person aged under 18( 1) : 
			   Fine  Community sentence  Conditional discharge  Otherwise dealt with( 4) 
			 1997 2 — — — 
			 1998 1 — — — 
			 1999 1 — 1 — 
			 2000(5) 1 — 1 — 
			 2001 6 — 4 — 
			 2002 12 — 3 1 
			 2003 11 — 7 — 
			 2004 22 — 8 — 
			 2005 18 — 6 — 
			 2006 14 2 10 — 
			 (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Buying or attempting to buy intoxicating liquor for consumption by a person under 18. Purchasing intoxicating liquor for consumption by person under 18 in bar. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(3). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(3). Person who buys or attempts to buy alcohol on behalf of an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 S149(3,4,7b).  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (4) Otherwise dealt with includes Sentences of Compensation, Hospital or Guardianship Orders under the Mental Health Act 1983, police cells, recognizance and other disposals not separately shown elsewhere. Also includes sentences passed in pilot studies (except for intermittent custody) and cases where the result of the court proceeding was incorrectly recorded.  (5) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.   Source:  Court proceedings data held by RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Ministry of Justice.

Foreign Workers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of A8 migrants registered on the Worker Registration Scheme who have returned to their home country.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 May 2008
	The purpose of the Worker Registration Scheme is to measure the number of A8 migrants entering the UK labour market and as such A8 migrants are not required to notify the Scheme when they return to their home countries.
	However, estimates of net migration by A8 migrants are produced and published by the Office for National Statistics on their website.

Immigration

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department work on assessing the effects of migration on public services.

Jacqui Smith: Home Office and UK Border Agency officials across various teams spend part of their time working on the impacts of migration, including on public services. UKBA policies look to balance economic need with the impacts of migration on communities, and public services in particular. We have established the Migration Advisory Committee to look at the economic aspects, and the Migration Impacts Forum to look at the social aspects of this. Communities and Local Government lead on the impacts of migration across Government.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff in her Department work on the formulation of policies to tackle  (a) knife and  (b) gun crime.

Jacqui Smith: The work on policy development on gun and knife crime is interconnected and it is not possible easily to disaggregate these functions. The Public Space Violence Team in the Violent Crime Unit develops policy on gun and knife crime and totals 11 members of staff. In addition, the Children and Young People Team has the remit for cross-cutting policy development relating to young people.
	Home Office staff in Government Offices for the Regions also work on local policies relating to gun and knife crime in their local areas.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the National Statistician and the Statistics Authority will next review the NHS quarterly waiting time statistics.

Phil Hope: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Michael Scholar, dated 9 May 2008:
	As chair of the UK Statistics Authority, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the National Statistician and the Statistics Authority will next review the NHS quarterly waiting time statistics. (202769)
	The UK Statistics Authority took responsibility for oversight of the UK official statistics system on 1st April 2008. The Authority has just appointed a Head of Assessment, a statutory post, whose holder will be responsible for the assessment and designation of all National Statistics against a Code of Practice for Statistics. The UK Statistics Authority will consider when and how these statistics should be assessed on the advice of the Head of Assessment, once that advice is available.

Non-Domestic Rates

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1061W, on non-domestic rates, if he will provide the information broken down by turnover band of  (a) less than £50,000,  (b) £50,000 to £99,999,  (c) £100,000 to £499,999,  (d) £500,000 to £1,999,999,  (e) £2,000,000 to £9,999,999,  (f) £10,000,000 to £49,999,999,  (g) £50,000,000 to £999,999,999 and  (h) £1,000,000,000 or more.

Phil Hope: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 12 May 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for expenditure on national non-domestic rates by businesses in England, by turnover band, as percentages of turnover, purchases and gross value added (GVA). (203914)
	Our Annual Business Inquiry (ABI), which covers most of the economy but excludes some sectors, such as agriculture, finance, local and central government, collects data on national non-domestic rates. The latest figures published for England alone relate to 2005. 2006 estimates will be available in June 2008.
	The ABI is normally stratified using employment sizebands but the turnover sizebands used in the analysis are as requested.
	The table below shows the data as per your request:
	
		
			   National non-domestic business rates in England as a percentage of: 
			   Total turnover  Total purchases of goods and services  Gross value added (GVA) 
			  Turnover sizeband  2005  2004  2003  2005  2004  2003  2005  2004  2003 
			 <£50,000 1.7 1.8 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.3 7.2 6.2 5.7 
			 £50,000 to £99,999 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.00 2.2 1.6 1.9 2.1 
			 £100,000 to £499,999 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.4 2.5 2.8 
			 £500,000 to £1,999,999 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.7 1.7 1.7 2.7 2.8 3.0 
			 £2,000,000 to £9,999,999 0.9 0.9 1.0 1.3 1.3 1.4 2.4 2.5 2.6 
			 £10,000,000 to £49,999,999 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.1 1.1 1.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 
			 £50,000,000 to £999,999,999 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.7 1.6 1.9 
			 £1,000,000,000 or more 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.9 0.7 
		
	
	Further details of the coverage of the annual business inquiry are given at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/abi
	The annual business inquiry is a sample survey so the figures are subject to sampling error. This is likely to be greater for the figures relating to small businesses than for businesses in the larger turnover bands.

Non-Profit Making Associations: Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much social enterprise funding is being provided to voluntary sector bodies in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: Government social enterprise policy is set out in the social enterprise action plan, which was launched in November 2006. Social enterprises come from a variety of backgrounds and a proportion of them will start as voluntary sector organisation looking to become more enterprising and diversify their income stream.
	A number of funds focus specifically on supporting social enterprise and enterprising third sector organisations. The Cabinet Office has two such programmes:
	Futurebuilders offers support and investment to third sector organisations to deliver public services. Cabinet Office committed a further £65 million to this fund over the 2008-11 CSR period, brining the total fund up to £215 million.
	A Risk Capital Fund which will, over the life of the fund, provide up to £10 million government money for co-investment in social enterprise, matched by up to £10 million from the private sector.
	In addition the Department of Health is investing £100 million over the next four years to create and support a vibrant social enterprise sector in health and social care.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Music: Internet

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government is taking to protect the music industry from illegal downloading.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government take the illicit use of peer-to-peer technology to download music and other copyright material very seriously. We accept it is difficult for the music industry to develop exciting and viable new business models in the face of such unlawful activity. That is why we are actively encouraging rights holders and internet service providers to agree a way forward—it is in both their longer term interests, and a voluntary arrangement that was effective and fair would be the best solution. However, the Government have also made it clear that in the absence of such an industry solution we will consult on regulatory options with a view to introducing legislation.

Working Hours: Tribunals

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many claims about  (a) working hours and  (b) flexible working by employees in the (i) public sector and (ii) private sector were accepted for hearings by employment tribunals in each year since 1997; and in how many such cases the tribunals found in favour of the claimant.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Working  hours and flexible working hours data 
			   Jurisdiction accepted( 1)  Disposals( 2, 3)  Cases disposed of at hearing  Number of successful at hearing 
			 1997-98 (4)— (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 1998-99 1,326 — — — 
			 1999-2000 5,595 1,376 209 119 
			 2000-01 6,389 3,475 906 583 
			 2001-02 4,980 4,367 986 521 
			 2002-03 6,436 3,497 849 426 
			 2003-04 (5)16,869 4,099 678 459 
			 2004-05 3,223 12,255 9,471 9,249 
			 2005-06 35,474 9,388 1,986 1,374 
			 2006-07 21,127 33,607 4,057 2,983 
			 (1) Table 1 shows the number of claims under the Working Time Directive and includes cases where working time directive is not the main jurisdiction. A claim may be bought under more than one jurisdiction or subsequently amended or clarified in the course of proceedings. Table 1 does not include claims brought under Flexible Working Hours (these are detailed in Table 2).  (2) This includes cases where there was an ACAS conciliated settlement, withdrawn cases, default judgments and cases disposed of otherwise.  (3) The disposal figures for 1999-2000 include cases where working time directive was the main jurisdiction cited.  (4) Data not held.  (5) The increase in 2003-04 is due to a large multiple case heard at Watford.   Notes:  1. Taken from Annual Reports 1999-2000 to 2006-07.  2. The information above includes both public and private sector as the information is not available separately. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Flexible Working Hours 
			   Receipts( 1, 2) 
			 2004-05 271 
			 2005-06 247 
			 2006-07 233 
			 2007-08 271 
			 (1) Receipts are all applications registered by the employment tribunals where Flexible Working Hours was one of the jurisdictions or main jurisdiction cited.  (2) In the annual report Flexible Working cases are reported on in the 'Other' category and cannot be separated out, therefore only the receipts can be provided, the receipt figures come from the management board statistics produced for ETS and a breakdown of jurisdictional receipts incl. flexible working hours cases were only reported on from September 2004. In the annual reports flexible working hours cases would be included in the 'Others' description so a breakdown cannot be provided from the published statistics.   Notes:  1. Figures taken from Management Statistics produced for ETS.  2. Table 2 shows the number of claims brought under Flexible Working Hours.  3. Figures are not available for the financial years 1997-08 to 2003-04

HEALTH

Alzheimer's Disease

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he discussed policy to tackle Alzheimer's disease and the French Plan on Alzheimer at his recent meeting with the French Minister of Health; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had discussions with the French Minister of Health on 14 April 2008 on a range of issues, including on measures to tackle dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
	Dementia is now a priority for the Government, and in August 2007 we announced the development of a new National Dementia Strategy and Implementation Plan. The strategy will focus on three key themes: improving awareness; early diagnosis and intervention; and improving the quality of care. Work on the strategy is already under way and draft recommendations are due to go out for public consultation in June 2008.

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average residential care home fee in each local authority area for  (a) local authority-funded residents and  (b) privately-funded residents was in each year since 1996.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 May 2008
	 The information requested is not held centrally.

Care Homes: Standards

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that older people in care homes receive a minimum standard of care; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government established the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 as a single inspectorate to bring together all strands of inspection, monitoring and the regulation of social care services, including care and nursing homes for older people.
	We introduced national minimum standards (NMS) for care homes, domiciliary care and adult placements. The NMS are intended to ensure vulnerable and older people can live in a safe environment, where their rights and dignity are respected and staff are properly trained. All care homes in England are regulated—registered and inspected—by CSCI in accordance with statutory regulations and the NMS. CSCI has a wide range of enforcement powers and will take action to protect the welfare of residents, with the aim of raising the quality of care and level of protection for vulnerable people and ensuring that service users and their families can be confident that their welfare and interests are safeguarded.
	We introduced the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Scheme in July 2004. This scheme, which operates as a work force ban, prevents dangerous or unscrupulous people from gaining access to older and vulnerable people in care homes or being cared for in their own homes.
	On the recommendation of the Bichard inquiry, we are introducing a new centralised vetting and barring scheme for people working with children and vulnerable people. This scheme, as set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, will extend the coverage of the existing barring scheme and draw on wider sources of information to provide a more comprehensive and consistent measure of protection for vulnerable groups across a wide range of settings, including the whole of social care and the national health service. The new scheme will make it far more difficult for abusers to gain access to some of the most vulnerable groups in society.
	In November 2006, the Department launched the first ever national Dignity In Care campaign. Our intention is to create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of older people and a situation where people are as outraged by the abuse of parents and grandparents as they are at the abuse of children.
	Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, all health and adult social care providers that come within the scope of registration will be required to register with the new regulator of health and social care services, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We expect CQC to begin its work in April 2009, when it will take over the duties of CSCI, the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission.
	CQC will provide assurance of essential levels of safety and quality of care to people using health and adult social care services in England. Our aim is to ensure that the registration system will apply equally to all health and adult social care providers, whether from the NHS, local authority or independent sectors. For the first time, there will be a single coherent, enforceable set of requirements for all providers of these services. In order to be granted registration, care providers will need to demonstrate that they can meet, or are already meeting the registration requirements. To maintain registration, they will be required to demonstrate an ongoing ability to meet those requirements.

Continuing Care

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities were providing long-term care services to people with  (a) low needs,  (b) moderate needs,  (c) substantial needs and  (d) critical needs in each year since the Fair Access to Care Services criteria were introduced.

Ivan Lewis: The data are not held centrally.

Home Care Services

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received local authority-funded, long-term care services in their own homes in each local authority area in each year since the Fair Access to Care Services criteria were introduced.

Ivan Lewis: A table showing the estimated number of clients receiving home care funded fully or partially by the local authority during the period 1 April to 31 March for each year since 2003-04, has been placed in the Library.
	Some of the services may not necessarily be for long-term home care and there are no data held centrally to show the length of time the service has been in place.

Learning Disability: Day Centres

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many day centres serving people with learning disabilities and their families have closed since March 2001; and what alternative services were provided in each case.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.
	It is for local authorities to decide on the closure of a day centre and to determine what services they provide to best meet the needs of their local populations. This includes services for people with learning disabilities.
	In our consultation on "Valuing People Now", we said that we recognise that, for many families, day centres have provided essential respite from the day to day demands of caring. The services that replace them must result in improvements for both users and their families. Copies of the consultation document are available in the Library.
	The consultation to "Valuing People Now" has now closed and we will be responding with our full strategy in the early autumn.

Learning Disability: Health Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what consideration his Department has given to increasing the number of  (a) health facilitators and (b) learning disability liaison nurses in the NHS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which NHS trusts have a disability equality scheme in place; and how many such schemes include provision to meet the needs of patients with learning disabilities;
	(3)  how many people with a learning disability had a health action plan in place at the latest date for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many  (a) learning disability liaison nurses and  (b) health facilitators there are in the national health service; and how many of each are on (i) permanent and (ii) fixed-term contracts;
	(5)  what plans he has to reduce the health inequalities experienced by people with a learning disability; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We will be looking at these and other roles on primary care and specialist services as part of our consideration of the consultation responses to "Valuing People Now". The deadline for responses to this consultation was 28 March 2008 and the responses are currently being analysed. We will publish a revised strategy which takes account of the consultation responses in the early autumn.
	The Department's good practice guidance on "Commissioning specialist adult learning disability services", published in October 2007, highlights the importance of the health facilitation role working with primary care teams, community health professionals and staff involved in delivering secondary health care.
	The information requested on how many learning disability liaison nurses and health facilitators there are in the national health service, and how many of each are on permanent and fixed-term contracts is not held centrally. We do notcollect data on national health service staff contracts.
	Information on the numbers of learning disability liaison nurses and health facilitators: neither group is separately identified in the NHS workforce census. However, the number of specialist learning disability nurses is collected in the census and this information is shown in the following table.
	The information on how many NHS trusts have a disability equality scheme is not collected centrally. All NHS trusts are required under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act to publish disability equality schemes that set out, among other things, how they intend to meet their duties towards disability equality. To assist them in this the Department published best practice guidance—"Creating a disability equality scheme a practical guide for the NHS"—in October 2006. Further guidance, specific to learning disabilities, is to be published shortly.
	The information requested on how many people with a learning disability had a health action plan in place is not held centrally.
	The Department recognises that more needs to be done to improve access to NHS services for people with learning disabilities. That is why health care is one of the key priorities within the "Valuing People Now" consultation document.
	The Department has committed to a wide-ranging programme of action, set out in the document "Promoting Equality" that was published in March 2007 (and copies of which are available in the Library) to respond to recommendations made by the Disability Rights Commission. This action includes:
	a programme of work to support wider implementation of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities;
	supporting primary care trusts (PCTs) (as commissioners of health services) in understanding and acting on the needs of people with learning disabilities and involving them in commissioning and reviewing services, in particular through sponsoring PCT commissioning 'exemplar sites';
	overseeing work with professional, regulatory and educational bodies to address understanding of learning disability in education and training for general practitioners, nurses and other health staff;
	improving the way that the Department of Health and the NHS evaluate key health initiatives for their impact on people with learning disabilities; and
	improving collection and management of information about health needs, services and health outcomes for people with learning disabilities and developing a more coordinated approach to performance monitoring.
	The Department published commissioning guidance for specialist learning disability health services—"Commissioning specialist adult learning disability health services—Good practice guidance 31 October 2007—and will shortly publish further guidance on meeting the disability equality duty in relation to people with learning disabilities. The Department is also taking forward a Human Rights in Health Care Programme, helping the NHS to recognise and respect the fundamental human rights of all patients.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff ,  England as at September 2007 
			  Headcount 
			   Community and learning disabilities  Other learning disabilities 
			 All qualified nursing 3,512 4,106 
			 Nurse consultant 24 10 
			 Modern matron 18 19 
			 Community matron (1)— (1)— 
			 Manager 110 229 
			 Registered nurse—children (1)— (1)— 
			 Registered midwife (1)— (1)— 
			 Health visitor (1)— (1)— 
			 District nurse (1)— (1)— 
			 School nurse (1)— (1)— 
			 Other 1st level(2) 3,235 3,621 
			 Other 2nd level(2) 125 227 
			 (1) Not applicable.  (2) Other 1st and 2nd level include staff coded as community psychiatric nurses (CPN) and community learning disabilities nurses (CLDN) with a specific recordable community qualification. 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   Community and learning disabilities  Other learning disabilities 
			 All qualified nursing 2,986 3,607 
			 Nurse consultant 23 10 
			 Modern matron 18 19 
			 Community matron (1)— (1)— 
			 Manager 105 220 
			 Registered nurse—children (1)— (1)— 
			 Registered midwife (1)— (1)— 
			 Health visitor (1)— (1)— 
			 District nurse (1)— (1)— 
			 School nurse (1)— (1)— 
			 Other 1st level(2) 2,748 3,151 
			 Other 2nd level(2) 92 207 
			 (1) Not applicable.  (2) Other 1st and 2nd level include staff coded as CPN and CLDN with a specific recordable community qualification.   Note:  Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care 2007 Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Meat Hygiene Service

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet representatives of the Red Lion Abattoir, Nantwich, to discuss the effect on them of the changes in the Meat Hygiene Service referred to in the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1801W, on the Meat Hygiene Service.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 9 May 2008
	The Meat Hygiene Service Business Manager, in whose area the Red Lion Abattoir is located, held a meeting with the abattoir's representatives on the 28 March. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce himself and discuss the changes taking place in the Meat Hygiene Service. The abattoir's representatives raised no specific issues or concerns about these changes.

NHS: PFI

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the effects will be on his Department's  (a) resource and  (b) capital budget for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11 of bringing NHS private finance initiative projects on balance sheet.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor announced in the March 2008 budget that the accounts of central Government Departments would be produced under International Financial Reporting Standards from financial year 2009-10. The Department is now undertaking a full assessment of moving to the new standards which includes examining the accounting and resource (capital and revenue) implications for the national health service's private finance initiative and other public private partnership schemes.

Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated May 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust area in each year since 2001.
	The latest available figures of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer are for the year 2005. Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of cancer are collected by the eight regional cancer registries in England and collated by Office for National Statistics (ONS). The cancer registration data held by ONS does not include NHS Trust.
	Information on newly diagnosed cases of cancer by NHS Trust is held by the regional cancers registries in England. Details of the regional cancer registries in England can be found in Chapter 6 of Cancer statistics: Registrations, Series MB1, available from the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=8843 &Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=272
	The number of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer by primary care trust was given in reply to a question asked by Christopher Fraser MP on 22 April 2008, reference 201666, but not yet published in the Official Report.

St. Luke's Hospital Market Harborough

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the rate of progress of the redevelopment of St Luke's Hospital in Market Harborough; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: East Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) reports that the public consultation on the future of community health services in Leicestershire and Rutland, including St. Luke's hospital and other community hospitals, is now planned to commence later in the year, following a change to the national and regional NHS Next Stage Review: "Our NHS, Our Future" timetable.
	The review by Leicestershire county and Rutland primary care trust (PCT) of community health services is part of a broader national review being carried out across the national health service in England, which is now almost complete. The national review is the culmination of nearly a year of engagement with NHS staff, patients and stakeholders which will influence the shape, style and delivery of health care for the next 10 years. In turn, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland NHS trusts have been reviewing how they can work together to deliver the best health care services for the communities they serve.
	The national and regional timetable has been revised to take into account further detail at national and regional level, and this means that Leicestershire county and Rutland PCT will need to wait to ensure that its proposals are consistent with the wider picture.
	The East Midlands SHA further reports that it is planned that the PCT's Board will approve the public consultation document at its meeting on 5 June 2008, and the public consultation will follow this.
	Following the public consultation, the PCT will prioritise developments to its community hospitals according to a number of criteria, including local needs, minimising service disruption, and availability of capital finance.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Dance

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to assist the development of dance.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department provides to dance as a cultural activity.

Margaret Hodge: DCMS sponsors Arts Council England to promote and invest in the development of the arts, including dance. Arts Council England's investment in dance in 2008-09 is £46.5 million, an increase of almost 100 per cent. since 1996-97. This funding will support dance companies and organisations across the country.
	At the same time, the recent Government response to Tony Hall's dance review has committed £5.5 million to youth dance and dance in schools (over the next three years).

Big Lottery Fund

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he next expects to meet representatives of the Big Lottery Fund to discuss its administrative costs.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Chairman and the Board of the Big Lottery Fund are committed to keeping their administrative costs to a minimum.

Film

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to promote collaboration between British and other European film producers.

Andy Burnham: The UK is signed up to the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production which promotes collaboration between British and other European film producers. Since its inception in 1994 the UK has participated in 412 co-productions under the convention.
	Also, the UK Film Council actively works to encourage collaboration at key film festivals such as Cannes and the Berlinale by providing networking and information sharing opportunities for UK and European filmmakers.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future of Stonehenge; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's plans for the future of Stonehenge remain to find a new solution to improve the setting for this iconic World Heritage Site, including new visitor facilities, in time for the Olympics in 2012. To this end, the Stonehenge Project Board has been reconvened and has met twice since December.

National Museums

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of recent trends in visits to national museums.

Margaret Hodge: The most recent figures show that visits to the former charging sponsored museums in England have almost doubled since the introduction of free access in December 2001. This represents an extra six million visits a year or 37 million visits over the six years since entry charges were abolished.
	Overall, visits to the national museums are continuing to increase each year, with number of visits rising from 24 million in 1997-98 to over 40 million in 2007-08.

Digital Switchover

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on digital switchover, with particular reference to assistance for vulnerable people.

Andy Burnham: Figures from the Ofcom Digital Television Update October to December 2007 showed that nationally, 86.7 per cent. of homes had converted their primary set to digital.
	Help will be available from the Digital Switchover Help Scheme for those aged 75 or over and those with disabilities. Those outside the scheme who may still need some additional assistance can get help from the digital outreach programme set up by Digital UK.

Women and Girls' Sport

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to increase participation by women and girls in sport and fitness activities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department is committed to ensuring that people from all sections of society are given the opportunity to participate in sport; and to breaking down the barriers that prevent them from doing so.
	Sport England provides annual funding to the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation, which works to improve and promote opportunities for women and girls in sport.
	Sport England is developing a new strategy to deliver a world leading community sport system, to sustain and increase participation in sport, and allow everyone to develop their sporting talent to the full. Sport England will encourage more people from under-represented groups to get involved in sport, including women and girls.
	Through the joint DCMS and DCSF PE and Sport Strategy for Young People the Government are investing an additional 100 million to offer five hours of high quality PE and sport to all pupils aged five to 16 and three hours for those aged 16 to 19. This will bring our total investment to at least 755 million over the next three years and will enable the provision of further sporting opportunities that recognise and respond to girls' needs and abilities.

Pistol Shooters

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on arrangements for target pistol shooters to train and compete in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have had no recent meeting to discuss the issue of Olympic target pistol shooters. This issue is being taken forward by colleagues at the Home Office who have secured agreement in principle from the Ministry of Defence on use of their ranges by a small squad of elite pistol shooters. Home Office Ministers have also agreed to allow a small number of elite shooters to possess their pistols at home for 'dry training', subject to satisfactory checks under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968.

Amusement Arcades

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 on the  (a) seaside amusement arcade and  (b) bingo industries.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I intend to issue a written ministerial statement very shortly, setting out the Government's position on this and a number of related issues.

Arts Council England: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant in aid Arts Council England received in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport gave Arts Council England the following grant in aid in each year since 1997. The figure for 2007-08 is the forecast outturn. Figures for 2008-09 - 2010-11 are the Arts Council's resource grant in aid allocation.
	
		
			   GIA income (000) (outturn figures) 
			 1997-98 179,026 
			 1998-99 179,337 
			 1999-2000 212,248 
			 2000-01 238,179 
			 2001-02 252,455 
			 2002-03 290,405 
			 2003-04 325,955 
			 2004-05 369,859 
			 2005-06 409,178 
			 2006-07 427,862 
			 2007-08 422,610 
			 2008-09 428,955 
			 2009-10 443,455 
			 2010-11 466,955

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Heritage Lottery Fund made to  (a) Lexington Communications,  (b) Morgan Allen Moore,  (c) Stratagem and  (d) Greenhaus Public Communications in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Margaret Hodge: The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Lexington Communications, Morgan Allen Moore, Strategem and Greenhaus Public Communications during the last five years:
	
		
			  Date  Agency  Net amount ()  Purpose/service 
			 Between 1 April 2005-31 March 2008 Lexington Communications 330,066.13 Strategic communications advice in the UK, and information monitoring of the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly and Greater London Assembly 
			 
			 Between 1 April 2005-31 March 2008 Morgan Allen Moore 17,340.63 Strategic communications advice in Wales 
			 
			 Between 1 April 2005-31 March 2008 Stratagem 4,112.50 Strategic communications advice in Northern Ireland 
			 
			 Between 1 April 2005-31 March 2008 Greenhaus Public Communications 160,179.73 Strategic communications advice in Scotland 
		
	
	The Heritage Lottery Fund has stated that providing a breakdown of individual payments or annual figures may compromise its ability to secure value for money in future tenders and that figures for financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Gambling Commission made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission has confirmed it made one payment of 11,374.00 (including VAT) on 27 March 2008 to Grayling Political Strategy for the purpose of communications support and media monitoring services.

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments English Heritage made to  (a) Citigate Public Affairs and  (b) Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Margaret Hodge: English Heritage has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Citigate Public Affairs and Grayling Political Strategy during the last five years:
	
		
			  Date  Agency  Purpose  Amount  () 
			 2003-04 Citigate Public Affairs Parliamentary monitoring (1)3,265 
			 
			 2004-05 Citigate Public Affairs Parliamentary monitoring 3,300 
			 
			 2005-06 Citigate Public Affairs Parliamentary monitoring 3,300 
			 2005-06 Grayling Political Strategy Communications consultants for Stonehenge project (2)43,479.99 
			 
			 2006-07 Citigate Public Affairs Parliamentary monitoring 3,300 
			 2006-07 Grayling Political Strategy Communications consultants for Stonehenge project (3)15,481.34 
			 
			 2007-08 Citigate Public Affairs Parliamentary monitoring 3,300 
			   Cover for absence of English Heritage's parliamentary relations manager 1,3754 
			4,675 
			 
			  Citigate Public Affairs Total (5)7,840 
			  Grayling Political Strategy Total (6)58,961.33 
			 (1) Payment for Citigate's parliamentary monitoring service is made monthly. The rate increased in May 2003 so the 2003-04 total is the sum of one month at 240 and 11 months at 275. (2) This is the total of four invoices as follows: dated 20 December 2005 for 5,170; 22 February 2006 for 9,047.50; 28 March for 28,505.81 and 31 March for 756.68. The first three were in respect of communication and stakeholder management advice and the fourth for costs associated with an exhibition and reception for parliamentarians. (3) This is the total of two invoices, one dated 16 May 2006 for 9,647.46 and the other dated 20 December 2006 for 5,833.88; both are for communication and stakeholder management advice. (4) Two payments of 687.50 were added to the October and November 2007 regular parliamentary monitoring invoices. (5) Net (6) Including VAT

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council made to Citigate Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Margaret Hodge: The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Citigate Public Affairs during the last five years. They also confirmed that they cancelled their contract with Citigate Public Affairs in July 2007.
	
		
			  Date  Purpose/service  Net amount () 
			 23 September 2003 Strategic communications advice 2,523.50 
			 21 October 2003 Strategic communications advice 8,106.22 
			 28 November 2003 Strategic communications advice 431.51 
			 9 December 2003 Strategic communications advice 5,036.99 
			 27 January 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 17 February 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 23 March 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,049.53 
			 23 March 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 25 May 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,070.90 
			 2 June 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 21 September 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,052.27 
			 21 September 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 21 September 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,079.05 
			 21 September 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,592.00 
			 1 November 2004 Strategic communications advice 542.48 
			 1 November 2004 Strategic communications advice 5,000.00 
			 12 April 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 16 May 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 7 June 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 28 June 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 16 August 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 23 August 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 500.00 
			 6 September 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 11 October 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 1 November 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 1,565.80 
			 15 November 2005 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 24 January 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,700.00 
			 24 January 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 3,860.73 
			 14 February 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 14 March 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 14 March 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 500.00 
			 31 March 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 18 July 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 18 July 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 18 July 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,000.00 
			 5 September 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,500.00 
			 5 September 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 3,000.00 
			 19 September 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 2,000.00 
			 4 October 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,000.00 
			 5 October 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 376.71 
			 5 October 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 837.50 
			 24 November 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,000.00 
			 18 December 2006 Parliamentary monitoring service 1,000.00 
			 17 January 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service 750.00 
			 31 January 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 20 February 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service 657.97 
			 2 March 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service 850.00 
			 30 March 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 2,500.00 
			 30 March 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 2,500.00 
			 25 May 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 6,001.52 
			 27 July 2007 Parliamentary monitoring service and strategic communication advice 2,474.99 
			
			 Total  119,959.67

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the British Library made to Fishburn Hedges in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Margaret Hodge: The British Library has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Fishburn Hedges during the last five years:
	
		
			  Invoice date  Purpose/service  Amount( 1)  () 
			 28 November 2003 Spending reviewconsultancy 17,813.71 
			 30 November 2003 Spending reviewconsultancy 14,148.10 
			 11 February 2004 Spending reviewsecond stage 28,863.82 
			 30 April 2004 Spending reviewfinal stage 12,059.08 
			 16 April 2007 Digital Object Management Programmeinternal engagementDesign 5,360.28 
			 22 May 2007 Digital Object Management Programmeinternal engagementDevelop 1,580.38 
			 (1) Including VAT

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments Sport England made to Strategic Communications Consultancy FD-LLM in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to FD-LLM during the last five years:
	
		
			  Date  Net amount ()  Purpose/service 
			 Monthly between May 2006 and November 2007 5,750 per month Public affairs support to the national and regional communications teams, producing briefing materials in advance of meetings, providing administrative support for Sport England's Parliamentary Sports Fellowship Scheme and support at Annual Party Conferences. 
			 Monthly between December 2007 and March 2008 9,250 per month As aforementioned, plus additional weekly policy tracking service, policy briefings and the specific support on Whitehall and Westminster activities that FD-LLM provides. 
			 Monthly since April 2008 8,500 per month As aforementioned.

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the British Museum made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose in each case.

Margaret Hodge: The British Museum has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Weber Public Affairs during the last five years:
	
		
			   Amount (including VAT)  Purpose/service 
			 27 January 2004 1,057.50 Local stakeholder relationship advice 
			 23 March 2004 293.75 Local stakeholder relationship advice 
			 27 March 2004 352.50 Local stakeholder relationship advice 
			 25 May 2004 1,527.50 Local stakeholder relationship advice 
			 29 June 2004 352.50 Local stakeholder relationship advice 
			 6 July 2004 22.09 Miscellaneous (expenses) 
			 20 July 2004 352.50 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 5 October 2004 528.75 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 2 November 2004 352.50 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 21 December 2004 470.00 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 18 January 2005 2,018.42 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 26 April 2005 1,292.50 Assisting in establishing the Museum's Community Liaison Group 
			 19 May 2005 46.52 Miscellaneous (expenses) 
			 10 January 2006 727.03 Local stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's listed building consent application for the Reading Room 
			 31 January 2006 1,784.53 Local stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's listed building consent application for the Reading Room 
			 25 July 2006 1,057.50 Local stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's listed building consent application for the Reading Room 
			 10 October 2006 2,604.45 Local stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's listed building consent application for the Reading Room 
			 17 April 2007 462.66 Stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's development projects 
			 18 January 2008 528.75 Stakeholder relationship advice for the Museum's development projects 
			 Total 15,831.95

Consultants

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the National Lottery Commission made to Hill  Knowlton in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose the payment was made in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The National Lottery Commission has provided the following information about the dates, amounts and purpose of payments made by them to Hill and Knowlton during the last five years:
	
		
			  Date  Amount (including VAT) ()  Purpose/service 
			 7 December 2005 15,079.93 All payments made to Hill and Knowlton between 7 December 2005 and 16 November 2007 inclusive were for media relations support, strategic communications advice, planning and stakeholder engagement support for the Third National Lottery Licence Competition.(1) 
			 20 January 2006 4,465.00 (1) 
			 20 January 2006 19,712.39 (1) 
			 20 January 2006 1,609.75 (1) 
			 7 February 2006 11,460.25 (1) 
			 14 March 2006 16,632.21 (1) 
			 24 March 2006 12,458.11 (1) 
			 24 March 2006 3,416.15 (1) 
			 4 May 2006 21,782.76 (1) 
			 31 May 2006 27,000.62 (1) 
			 31 August 2006 64,800.15 (1) 
			 12 October 2006 12,039.22 (1) 
			 19 October 2006 1,243.62 (1) 
			 9 November 2006 8,985.35 (1) 
			 30 November 2006 9,860.60 (1) 
			 31 January 2007 12,422.93 (1) 
			 21 February 2007 16,592.18 (1) 
			 28 February 2007 9,625.64 (1) 
			 26 March 2007 34,660.49 (1) 
			 4 May 2007 9,880.32 (1) 
			 24 May 2007 10,320.60 (1) 
			 7 June 2007 11,503.49 (1) 
			 13 August 2007 19,684.16 (1) 
			 29 August 2007 3,988.19 (1) 
			 9 October 2007 15,228.00 (1) 
			 16 November 2007 51,403.19 (1) 
			 28 November 2007 15,878.06 Media relations and strategic planning 
			 4 January 2008 29,258.35 Stakeholder and media relations support 
			 22 February 2008 27,457.52 Stakeholder and media relations support 
			 25 March 2008 14,040.83 Stakeholder and media relations support 
			 Total 512,490.06

Cricket: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) exchequer and  (b) lottery funding was given to the Chance to Shine cricket programme in each of the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England advises that 2.5 million was awarded by the National Sports Foundation NSF (exchequer) to the Chance to Shine scheme. All of this had been paid by the end of the 2007-08 financial year. 2 million was also awarded to the scheme by Sport England (Lottery Fund Money) for the funding period December 2005 to March 2007. All of this money has been paid out.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) the agencies of his Department were disciplined or dismissed for (i) alleged breaches of data protection requirements and (ii) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in each of the last three years for which information is available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No officials have been either dismissed or disciplined for alleged breaches of data protection requirements or inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in any of the last three years.

Departmental Equality

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department met the civil service diversity targets set out on page 51 of Cabinet Office Annual Report 2007 by April 2008.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has met all of its targets set out on page 51 of the Cabinet Office annual report 2007.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Women  Ethnic Minority  Disabled 
			 Target set for DCMS 37 4 3.2 
			 Target at 31 March 2008 41 7 3 
			 Exceeded target 4 3 Met

Departmental Manpower

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department are engaged  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time in aspects of his Department's responsibilities relating to tourism.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 April 2008
	 The number of staff working part-time on aspects of the Department's responsibilities for tourism is 18. As part of our re-structuring, we have established a central programme team and where necessary, would call on resources there to undertake specific projects or programmes of work relating to tourism policy. Five of the nine staff working full-time on tourism issues have already been drawn from this team.

Smoking

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department's London buildings in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not built smoking shelters at any of its London buildings in the last five years.

Sports: Attendance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to facilitate family attendance at sporting and cultural events.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 May 2008
	 We are working closely with the sporting and cultural sector's strategic delivery bodies including Arts Council England, English Heritage, the Museums Libraries and Archives Council, and Sport England to ensure that we maximise our impact on increasing attendance and participation rates including families. These bodies deliver through a range of programmes and initiatives with cultural organisations at regional and local level.
	This includes continuing to fund free admission to sponsored museums, investment in programmes such as Renaissance in the Regions, promoting family-related activities in public libraries, a family friendly toolkit designed by the Arts Council to support arts organisations, English Heritage's historical events programme and Heritage Open Days, Sport England's work to increase the number of people participating in community sport, and the Youth Sport Trust's work to encourage parents to become involved as leaders and coaches.

Sports: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has allocated to sports and leisure governing bodies in each of the last three years, broken down by activity.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 3 April 2008
	My Department does not fund sport and leisure national governing bodies directly. This is done by Grant-in-Aid and Lottery funding through Sport England and UK Sport. The figures supplied by both bodies are:
	
		
			  Combined funding to national governing bodies 
			
			 2005-06 114,338,236 
			 2006-07 163,951,312 
			 2007-08 122,164,193 
		
	
	
		
			   
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			  Activities funded via Sport England 
			  Exchequer 
			 Angling 185,000 0 40,000 225,000 
			 Archery 15,000 15,000 0 30,000 
			 Athletics 1,127,000 367,000 670,462 2,164,462 
			 Badminton 170,000 207,500 176,875 554,375 
			 Basketball 216,000 163,500 137,750 517,250 
			 Boxing 0 5,000 20,000 25,000 
			 Canoeing 45,000 132,500 127,500 305,000 
			 Caving 5,000 2,500 0 7,500 
			 Cricket 655,000 2,186,500 2,831,600 5,673,100 
			 Cycling 117,917 414,345 235,000 767,262 
			 Disabled Sport 0 467,033 0 467,033 
			 Equestrian 35,000 35,000 69,000 139,000 
			 Fencing 50,000 30,000 0 80,000 
			 Football 916,000 356,000 3,845,000 5,117,000 
			 Golf 149,000 209,000 308,250 666,250 
			 Gymnastics 544,000 377,000 380,000 1,301,000 
			 Handball 7,000 3,500 0 10,500 
			 Hockey 188,000 215,500 255,231 658,731 
			 Ice Skating 25,000 25,000 0 50,000 
			 Judo 60,000 85,000 84,500 229,500 
			 Lacrosse 289,333 17,000 25,000 331,333 
			 Life Saving 7,000 3,500 0 10,500 
			 Mountaineering 170,000 5,000 0 175,000 
			 Movement and Dance 25,500 22,000 4,750 52,250 
			 Multi Sports 861,000 823,101  1,684,101 
			 Netball 180,000 193,500 182,500 556,000 
			 Orienteering 135,000 45,000 44,250 224,250 
			 Petanque 5,000 0 0 5,000 
			 Real Tennis 6,000 3,000 0 9,000 
			 Rounders 100,000 0 50,000 150,000 
			 Rowing 76,667 122,500 112,625 311,792 
			 Rugby League 140,500 1,683,500 1,682,500 3,506,500 
			 Rugby Union 965,000 1,874,250 2,512,488 5,351,738 
			 Sailing 75,000 158,462 146,213 379,675 
			 Shooting 6,500 0 0 6,500 
			 Skiing 40,000 30,000 0 70,000 
			 Squash 146,000 200,700 182,500 529,200 
			 Swimming 701,000 462000 460,000 1,623,000 
			 Table Tennis 179917 179571 212,625 572,113 
			 Tennis 61000 1,820,000 1,811,250 3,692,250 
			 Triathlon 75,000 15,000 118,699 208,699 
			 Tug of War 3,250 1,500 0 4,750 
			 Volleyball 417,917 108,000 123,250 649,167 
			 Water Skiing 35,000 0 0 35,000 
			 Windsurfing 0 0 80,000 80,000 
			 Wrestling 10,000 5,000 0 15.000 
			 Total 9,221,501 13,069,462 16,929,818 39,220,781 
			  
			  Lottery 
			 Angling 0 184,999 500,000 684,999 
			 Athletics 3,213,312 5,513,853 6,674,483 15,401,648 
			 Badminton 3,509,290 6,709,065 2,089,000 12,307,355 
			 Baseball 1,200,000 0 801,500 2,001,500 
			 Bobsleigh 9,400 28,200 0 37,600 
			 Basketball 811,000 650,000 965,000 2,426,000 
			 Boxing 963,528 1,630,200 230,000 2,823,728 
			 Canoeing 1,550,000 1,860,000 1,809,000 5,219,000 
			 Cricket 2,355,350 10834224 2,534,230 15,723,804 
			 Cycling 2,920,000 4,176,000 445,000 7,541,000 
			 Equestrian 1,000,000 906,000 1,405,200 3,311,200 
			 Football 9,216,694 0 0 9,216,694 
			 Golf 2,000,000 6,000,000 1,537,000 9,537,000 
			 Gymnastics 2,022,198 1945948 2,357,916 6,326,062 
			 Hockey 2,031,623 3,130,000 195,000 5,356,623 
			 Ice Skating 86,875 0 51,281 138,156 
			 Judo 3,893,108 0 1,082,190 4,975,298 
			 Karate 450,000 250,000 0 700,000 
			 Lacrosse 840,000 0 467,000 1,307,000 
			 Modern Pentathlon 585,000 444,000 0 1,029,000 
			 Mountaineering 0 600,000 180,000 780,000 
			 Movement and Dance 0 150,000 410,000 560'000 
			 Multi Sports 131,790 3,389,300 1,032,991 4,554,081 
			 Netball 2,742,911 8,100,452 1,567,852 12,411,215 
			 Orienteering 285,000 375,000 725,980 1,385,980 
			 Rounders 0 300,000 110,000 410,000 
			 Rowing 2,900,000 2,247,000 1,863,008 7,010,008 
			 Rugby League 2,450,000 7,050,000 0 9,500,000 
			 Rugby Union 3,709,355 4,567,969 0 8,277,324 
			 Shooting 96,000 0 0 96,000 
			 Skiing 2,557,000 3,054,000 1,214,376 6,825,376 
			 Squash 1,525,000 4,500,000 1,241,500 7,266,500 
			 Swimming 6,922,793 5,909,654 195,000 13,027,447 
			 Table Tennis 3,475,000 0 155,000 3,630,000 
			 Taekwondo 30,000 0 0 30,000 
			 Tennis 8,122,928 0 0 8,122,928 
			 Triathlon 801.250 1,709,400 1,134,764 3,645,414 
			 Volleyball 0 990,000 490,995 1,480,995 
			 Water Skiing 140,000 525,000 0 665,000 
			 Wrestling 54,628 0 125,040 179,668 
			 Total 74,601,033 87,730,264 33,590,306 195,921,603 
			  
			  Activities funded via UK Sport 
			  Exchequer 
			 Airsports 47,345 51,560 49,032 147,937 
			 Athletics 2,452,935 3,624,139 2,526,300 8,603,374 
			 Archery 55,076 378,084 441,391 874,551 
			 Badminton 1,730 101,287 859,901 962,918 
			 Basketball 3,370 9,265 1,939,973 1,952,608 
			 Baseball 107,445 171,845 171,633 450,923 
			 Biathlon 0 1,470 0 1,470 
			 Bob Skeleton 128,562 5,998 0 134,560 
			 Bobsleigh 62,935 83,990 110,000 256,925 
			 Boccia 0 0 138,894 138,894 
			 Bowls 4,095 3,165 1,130 8,390 
			 Boxing 11,215 432,370 1,034,725 1,478,310 
			 Canoe 483,685 993,044 1,006,147 2,482,876 
			 Caving 12,530 5,500 0 18,030 
			 Curling 70,750 55,295 38,713 164,758 
			 Cycling 2,640,682 3,829,661 4,213,961 10,684,304 
			 Disabled Sport 102,674 208,665 860,822 1,172,161 
			 Equestrian 289,295 1,338,374 2,436,144 4,063,813 
			 Fencing 54,350 288,898 514,927 858,175 
			 Football 6,378 0 0 6,378 
			 Golf 0 10,334 0 10,334 
			 Gymnastics 738,504 434,942 835,539 2,008,985 
			 Handball 5,025 418,570 873,720 1,297,315 
			 Hang Gliding and Paragliding 30,000 30,000 30,000 90,000 
			 Hockey 47,913 2,493,456 2,552,743 5,094,112 
			 Ice Hockey 515 1,850 1,723 4,088 
			 Ice Skating 129,000 64,500 0 193,500 
			 Judo 306,250 489,609 664,541 1,460,400 
			 Karate 2,040 2,155 2,685 6,880 
			 Lacrosse 8,085 31,065 6,085 45,235 
			 Life Saving 9,625 3,895 3,885 17,405 
			 Modern Pentathlon 160,000 350,000 416,000 926,000 
			 Motor Cycling 8,125 11,105 6,397 25,627 
			 Mountaineering 85,655 60,550 25,630 171,835 
			 Netball 4,150 6,351 8,237 18,738 
			 Orienteering 235,197 228,990 255,981 720,168 
			 Parachute 25,000 25,000 25,000 75,000 
			 Physical Education 0 0 2,067 2,067 
			 Rowing 2,459,484 6,504,953 5,894,828 14,859,265 
			 Rugby League 39,485 0 0 39,485 
			 Rugby Union 22,115 0 0 22,115 
			 Sailing 20,000 26,246 23,000 69,246 
			 Shooting 186,928 523,125 956,700 1,666,753 
			 Snowsports 169,435 166,385 259,106 594,926 
			 Squash 8,930 12,195 26,863 47,988 
			 Swimming 357,679 2,602,668 3,217,243 6,177,590 
			 Table Tennis 13,080 353,358 397,476 763,914 
			 Taekwondo 40,000 274,383 360,293 674,676 
			 Target Shooting 0 0 5,534 5,534 
			 Tennis 0 41,500 162,700 204,200 
			 Triathlon 326,755 169,185 361,704 857,644 
			 Volleyball 12,505 442,910 1,039,921 1,495,336 
			 Water Skiing 207,525 222,050 230,693 660,268 
			 Weight Lifting 97,660 172,445 531,538 801,643 
			 Wrestling 20,000 275,730 338,590 634,320 
			 Yachting 1,908,346 3,348,503 3,432,309 8,689,158 
			 Total 14,220,063 31,380,618 39,292,422 84,893,103 
			  
			  Lottery 
			 Airsports 7,066 1,570 0 8,636 
			 Athletics 1,406,370 4,013,947 2,805,725 8,226,042 
			 Archery 451,506 673,759 704,191 1,829,456 
			 Badminton 164,000 1,505,935 1,615,483 3,285,418 
			 Basketball 0 0 14,000 14,000 
			 Bob Skeleton 126,718 427,240 518,311 1,072,269 
			 Bobsleigh 77,164 28,928 33,364 139,456 
			 Boccia 41,361 48,639 43,306 133,306 
			 Boxing 0 359,416 355,292 714,708 
			 Canoe 1,183,098 1,938,157 2,480,794 5,602,049 
			 Curling 147,790 54,919 159,280 361,989 
			 Cycling 550,414 2,651,865 2,602,704 5,804,983 
			 Disabled Sport 991,523 1,069,332 730,364 2,791,219 
			 Equestrian 1,491,607 1,960,858 1,454,059 4,906,524 
			 Eventing 60,000 7,555 0 67,555 
			 Fencing 213,412 242,970 423,317 879,699 
			 Figure Skating 0 0 4,000 4,000 
			 Football 50,000 0 10,000 60,000 
			 Gymnastics 582,440 1,423,756 1,523,126 3,529,322 
			 Handball 0 0 213,776 213,776 
			 Hockey 0 0 672,393 672,393 
			 Ice Skating 227,549 272,402 284,258 784,209 
			 Judo 667,231 1,205,266 1,433,197 3,305,694 
			 Modern Pentathlon 508,615 949,439 1,167,758 2,625,812 
			 Orienteering 76,550 0 0 76,550 
			 Rowing 1,214,881 1,266,978 1,405,482 3,887,341 
			 Rugby Union 3,642 250,000 39,000 292,642 
			 Sailing 243,200 107,200 180,118 530,518 
			 Shooting 424,952 477,176 542,450 1,444,578 
			 Snowsports 260,000 151,473 75,749 487,222 
			 Swimming 3,279,806 5,545,293 5,574,219 14,399,318 
			 Table Tennis 0 222,450 252,700 475,150 
			 Taekwondo 229,648 326,796 543,745 1,100,189 
			 Tennis 65,244 187,854 63,415 316,513 
			 Triathlon 709,755 716,927 776,238 2,202,920 
			 Volleyball 0 122,000 261,850 383,850 
			 Weight Lifting 132,032 181,396 143,469 456,897 
			 Wrestling 104,376 118,287 317,645 540,308 
			 Yachting 603,689 3,261,185 2,926,869 6,791,743 
			 Total 16,295,639 31,770,968 32,351,647 80,418,254

Strip Clubs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate his Department has made of the change in the number of lap-dancing clubs licensed by local authorities since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold this information. As part of its data collection in connection with the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistical Bulletin, which was published on 8 November 2007, the Department has broadly recorded a number of licensable activities that have been carried out under the 2003 Act. However, these data are not broken down into specific types of entertainment, such as lap dancing.

Tourism

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish his Department's report on measuring elasticities of tourism demand.

Margaret Hodge: We expect to publish our report estimating elasticities of tourism demand in July.

VisitBritain: Publications

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the VisitBritain Strategic Review of UK Tourism Support.

Margaret Hodge: I expect to publish the VisitBritain Strategic Review by the end of July.

JUSTICE

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessors spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Maria Eagle: As a central Government Department, the Ministry of Justice supports DEFRA's Global Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). As the Ministry was created in May 2007 and the 2007-08 data have not yet been verified and offset, we are unable to provide data for the Ministry of Justice. For 2005-06, the Home Office will report on their old structure and the Ministry of Justice will report on the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
	The Department for Constitutional Affairs joined the GCOF in 2006 and offset 606.72 for the 2006-07 reporting year. The payment was made to the GCOF approved portfolio of Certified Emission Reductions from Trading Emissions plc. More information can be found at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/carbonoffset/government.htm

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions he visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: In the last 12 months, Ministers in this Department have visited Scotland twice, Wales six times and Northern Ireland five times. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Diamond Project

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will hold discussions with  (a) Unlock,  (b) other representatives of the third sector,  (c) individuals and  (d) companies on the Diamond Project.

David Hanson: There has been regular communication between my Department and Unlock over the past six months, the latest of which was a letter I wrote to them on 22 April 2008. They have also met with officials.

Drugs: Misuse

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been  (a) proceeded against,  (b) found guilty and  (c) imprisoned for the offence of possessing (i) heroin, (ii) cocaine, (iii) ecstasy and (iv) LSD under section 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in each of the last 10 years.

Jack Straw: The number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts for possession of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, and subsequently found guilty at all courts, and sentenced to immediate custody in England and Wales, for the years 1997 to 2006 can be viewed in the following tables.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  N umber of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for possession of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and LSD, and subsequently found guilty at all courts and sentenced to immediate custody in England and Wales, 1997 to 2006( 1,2,3,4) 
			   Proceeded against 
			   Having possession of a controlled drug: Cocaine  Having possession of a controlled drug: Heroin  Having possession of a controlled drug: LSD  Having possession of a controlled drug: MDMA 
			 1997 1,194 3,698 205 1,132 
			 1998 1,829 4,819 173 810 
			 1999 2,268 5,236 150 1,369 
			 2000 2,048 5,436 68 2,064 
			 2001 2,133 5,849 77 2,626 
			 2002 2,387 5,494 47 2,277 
			 2003 2,668 4,832 49 2,156 
			 2004 2,901 4,461 45 1,921 
			 2005 3,352 4,158 68 1,765 
			 2006 4,190 4,184 54 1,618 
		
	
	
		
			   Found guilty 
			   Having possession of a controlled drug: Cocaine  Having possession of a controlled drug: Heroin  Having possession of a controlled drug: LSD  Having possession of a controlled drug: MDMA 
			 1997 1,050 3,248 203 1,048 
			 1998 1,644 4,331 167 753 
			 1999 2,039 4,814 141 1,262 
			 2000 1,874 5,058 67 1,951 
			 2001 1,968 5,411 67 2,493 
			 2002 2,230 5,042 40 2,165 
			 2003 2,448 4,556 43 2,009 
			 2004 2,740 4,256 40 1,853 
			 2005 3,183 3,954 61 1,677 
			 2006 4,001 3,961 47 1,539 
		
	
	
		
			   Sentenced to immediate custody 
			   Having possession of a controlled drug: Cocaine  Having possession of a controlled drug: Heroin  Having possession of a controlled drug: LSD  Having possession of a controlled drug: MDMA 
			 1997 70 319 15 62 
			 1998 103 500 16 51 
			 1999 146 591 13 69 
			 2000 140 595 3 106 
			 2001 147 635 3 151 
			 2002 142 560  100 
			 2003 153 484  81 
			 2004 132 428  60 
			 2005 154 384 4 61 
			 2006 187 370 2 62 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class 'A' Drug). Having possession of a controlled drug:-Cocaine. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class 'A' Drug). Having possession of a controlled drug:-Heroin. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class 'A' Drug). Having possession of a controlled drug:-LSD. Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Sec 5(2) (Class 'A' Drug). Having possession of a controlled drug:-MDMA. (3) MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is also known as ecstasy (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Court proceedings data held by RDSOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

House of Lords: Reform

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on further reform of the House of Lords.

Jack Straw: Following an invitation from the Leader of the House, the Cross-Party Group on House of Lords Reform has received three written representations from peers. These have been circulated to members of the Cross-Party Group, with an invitation to comment on proposals in the papers. In addition, I have received one representation from a joint group of MPs and peers. We also continue to receive correspondence on this subject from members of the public.

Prison Governors' Association

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Prison Governors' Association on the introduction of prison councils.

David Hanson: The policy on prisoners' councils is set out in PSO 4480, a copy of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House. The Prison Governors' Association have not discussed, or requested to discuss, this issue with either the Secretary of State or Prisons Ministers. National Offender Management Service officials maintain an ongoing dialogue with PGA representatives, and are willing to discuss with the PGA any views or concerns it may have.

Prison Service: Females

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to encourage more women to become prison governors.

Maria Eagle: Although the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not target women differentially, either in the provision of development opportunities to Prison Service employees, or in its recruitment and selection processes, it works to maximise access across all groups; and the proportion of women in the senior operational manager and operational manager grades has increased from 19.5 per cent. in April 2005 to 22.9 per cent. in April 2008. In particular, NOMS operates two fast-track schemes for direct entry into operational manager gradesthe intensive development scheme and the senior prison manager programme. In the three most recent completed campaigns, 54 per cent. of SPMP recruits, and 65 per cent. of IDS recruits, have been female.

Prison Service: Females

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many female prison governors there are.

Maria Eagle: The numbers of in-charge governors and deputy governors in public sector prison establishments are as follows:
	
		
			   In-Charge  Deputy Governors 
			 Female 25 30 
			 Male 93 86 
			 Total (excluding vacant posts) 118 116 
			 Percentage female 21.2 25.9 
		
	
	The 11 contracted prison establishments (which do not use the same grading structures as the public sector service) employ four female directors (equivalent to in-charge governor) and three female deputy directors.

Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of category C prisoners are detained in category D prisons.

David Hanson: Category C prisoners are not held in category D prisons. All prisoners are assessed as to their risk of escape or abscond, which ensures allocation of prisoners to a prison providing appropriate levels of security. Only those considered suitable would be held in category D open conditions.

Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to re-categorise prisoners.

David Hanson: The information required for such an assessment is not collated centrally and could be obtained only by asking every prison to review the categorisation history of a sufficiently large sample group of prisoners. This could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Further Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the impact of the churn of prisoners on further educational provision in prisons.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice are working with the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills as well as the Learning and Skills Council to minimise the effect on learning of prisoner movements between prisons. This work includes facilitating the LSCs roll-out of a learner summary record to assist with educational record availability. In addition the current offender skills and curriculum area reviews are expected to produce a consistent core to the curriculum offered wherever prisoners are held.

Prisoners: Grendon Prison

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners in  (a) HMP Grendon and  (b) HMP Springhill are from the Thames Valley area.

Maria Eagle: As at 31 March 2008 (the latest date for which figures are available);
	 (a) At HMP Grendon, 11 per cent. of the prisons' population come from the Thames Valley area.
	 (b) At HMP Spring Hill, 32 per cent. of the prisons' population come from the Thames Valley area.

Prisoners: Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how his Department defines purposeful activity for which prisoners are eligible for payment.

Maria Eagle: Purposeful activity is defined as undertaking work, induction, education, training or offending behaviour programmes. These are set out in Prison Service Order 4460 Prisoners' Pay.

Prisoners: Per Capita Costs

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to the public purse of each prisoner was in each of the last five financial years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The average resource cost per prisoner was as follows:
	
		
			   
			 2006-07 37,500 
			 2005-06 36,400 
			 2004-05 34,100 
			 2003-04 33,000 
			 2002-03 35,800 
		
	
	The figures include the total expenditure of HM Prison Service and also prison-related expenditure met centrally by the National Offender Management Service. From 2003-04 expenditure on prisoners' health is the responsibility of the Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government as appropriate and is not included. Expenditure on prisoners' education is the responsibility of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and is not included.

Prisoners: Personal Property

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what circumstances prisoners are allowed to retain personal items of value while in custody; and what restrictions apply in such circumstances.

Maria Eagle: Prisoners may retain a reasonable amount of their personal property with them while in custody. The amount and type of property retained is at the discretion of the governor and restrictions will apply for the maintenance of good order and security. Any property which a prisoner states to be of particular value must be recorded as such and placed in secure conditions with the prison establishment unless the governor allows the prisoner to retain it in his/her possession.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the impact on the rehabilitation of prisoners of the interaction between inmates and prison staff on prison councils.

Maria Eagle: The policy on prisoners' councils is set out in PSO 4480, a copy of which I have placed in the Library. While there has been no formal assessment of the impact of prison councils on the rehabilitation of prisoners, any engagement with prisoners is seen as constructive and enables staff to understand issues from a prisoner's perspective.

Prisoners: Release

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners released while on the waiting list for approval for day release in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken for a prisoner to be approved for day release.

David Hanson: Data are not held centrally on the length of time taken to consider an application for temporary release as each application is considered on its merits. The volume of information required to complete the necessary risk assessment will vary according to the individual circumstances of the prisoner and the type of release applied for. Likewise, data are not held centrally on the number of prisoners released from custody on completion of their sentence while waiting for an application for temporary release to be considered.
	The Prisoners' Requests and Complaints procedures are available to prisoners for any complaints they may have about any aspect of prison life. Prisoners may use these procedures to make a complaint to the Governor if they consider their ROTL application has been unduly delayed.

Prisons: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what measures are in place to ensure that prisons take steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Maria Eagle: The Prison Service is working with the Carbon Trust to undertake a full Carbon Management Program. They are also in the process of undertaking an energy awareness campaign across the Prison estate that is due to commence this month for all staff.

Young Offender Institutions: Drugs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) inmates of and  (b) visitors to young offender institutions were found to be in possession of illegal drugs in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: The best measure of the number of inmates found in possession of illegal drugs can be drawn from the adjudications data for the offence of possession of a controlled drug. Data are not published by establishment type at this level of offence detail.
	The published data are available on the Ministry of Justice website. The latest data can be found in supplementary tables 9.4MF, 9.4M and 9.4F to the Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2006. Similar tables are available for the publications covering the years 1997-2005. Before 2003, please refer to Prison Statistics, England and Wales, chapter 8.
	Link to OMCS 2006:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonandprobation.htm
	Link to Prison Statistics, England and Wales:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/omcsa.html
	 Visitors
	The number of visitors to prisons found in possession of illegal drugs is not recorded. The number of incidents occurring in establishments that involved the arrest of a visitor and a drug being found are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Number of incidents involving visitors to YOIs being arrested and an illegal drug being found 
			 1996-97 213 
			 1997-98 188 
			 1998-99 134 
			 1999-2000 53 
			 2000-01 29 
			 2001-02 62 
			 2002-03 50 
			 2003-04 86 
			 2004-05 34 
			 2005-06 45 
			 2006-07 23 
			 2007-08 41 
		
	
	This has been matched by a parallel reduction in drug misuse as measured by random mandatory drug testing.
	All data in this answer have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.
	All data in this answer are drawn from establishments designated by the Prison Service Strategy and Performance Group as Young Offender Institutions. They exclude some establishments which are not deemed YOIs but do house young offenders. Typically these are split establishments which cater for both adults and young offenders. It is important to note that the number of establishments deemed to be YOIs has varied since 1996-97.

Young Offender Institutions: Mental Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) psychologists,  (b) psychiatrists and  (c) psychiatric nurses work in (i) privately and (ii) publicly operated youth offender institutions in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The information requested for young offender institutions (YOIs) in England is not collected.
	In England, a national mapping and inventory exercise of child health, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and maternity services is undertaken annually by the Department of Health and Durham University.
	The next report will, for the first time, include data specific to children and young people subject to the criminal justice system. This is expected in November 2008.
	Further information is available on the Child Health, CAMHS and Maternity Mapping website at:
	http://www.childhealthmapping.org.uk/
	The commissioning of secondary/tertiary care health services to YOIs based in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government/NHS Wales.

Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many injuries sustained by offenders held in  (a) secure training centres,  (b) secure children's homes and  (c) young offender institutions resulted in the offender receiving hospital treatment in each year since 2000, broken down by establishment; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The Youth Justice Board has collected data on self-harm, assault and restraint using common definitions across the secure estate since April 2007. Data compiled before that time are not comparable between different sectors.
	The following table shows the requested information for the period 1 April 2007 to 29 February 2008. It shows the number of injuries resulting in hospitalisation as a result of assault, restraint or self-harm in secure training centres, young offender institutions and secure children's homes.
	
		
			   2007  2008 
			   Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb 
			  Secure training centres
			 Hassockfield 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 Rainsbrook 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Oakhill 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 
			 Medway 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 
			  Young offender institutions
			 Ashfield 1 0 3 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 
			 Pare 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Brinsford 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Castington 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Feltham 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 
			 Hindley 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Huntercombe 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 Lancaster Farms 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Stoke Heath 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 
			 Thorn Cross 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warren Hill 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 
			 Werrington 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Wetherby 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Cookham Wood(1) 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 1 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Downview 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 
			 Eastwood Park 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 New Hall 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  Secure children's homes
			 Aldine House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Atkinson Unit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Aycliffe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Barton Moss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Clayfields 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Moor 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gladstone House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillside Secure 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kyloe House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Orchard Lodge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Red Bank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sutton Place 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Swanwick Lodge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Vinney Green 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Cookham Wood was not occupied for part of the period.  Note: Data provided by the YJB. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Young Offender: Crimes of Violence

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many instances of prisoner-on-officer violence were recorded in each  (a) secure training centre,  (b) secure children's home and  (c) young offender institution in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many instances of prisoner-on-prisoner violence were recorded in each  (a) secure training centre,  (b) secure children's home and  (c) young offender institution in each year since 2000, broken down by establishment; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 April 2008,  Official Report, column 897W.

Young Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average number of hours per day spent in purposeful activity was by prisoners in  (a) young offender institutions and  (b) juvenile custodial institutions in each week of February and March 2008.

David Hanson: The following table shows the average number of hours per day spent in purposeful activity by prisoners in  (a) young offender institutions and  (b) juvenile custodial institutions, for each week in February and March 2008.
	
		
			  Week commencing  YO male  Juvenile male 
			 3 February 2008 3.9 4.2 
			 10 February 2008 3.7 4.1 
			 17 February 2008 3.8 4.2 
			 24 February 2008 3.7 4.3 
			 2 March 2008 3.8 4.2 
			 9 March 2008 3.7 4.2 
			 16 March 2008 3.5 3.9 
			 23 March 2008 3.2 3.8 
			 30 March 2008 3.6 4.2 
			  Note: Data are provisional and subject to end year validation.

Young Offenders: Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the average number of hours of education undertaken by a prisoner in a young offender institution per week.

David Hanson: The average number of hours spent in educational activity per week per prisoner in young offender and juvenile institutions during 2007-08 was 12.2 hours. Data are provisional and subject to end year validation, which may see an increase in educational activity undertaken by prisoners.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Arson

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost of arson to the economy in each of the last five years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Estimates for the cost of arson to the economy for the five years to 2004 are shown as follows. Work will commence this year to produce estimates for subsequent years. Around 60 per cent. of the estimated costs are directly attributable to the occurrence of arson fires, with the remainder due to measures taken in anticipation of arson fires, such as installing fire prevention measures.
	
		
			  Total cost of deliberate fires, England and Wales, 2000-04 
			   million 
			   Total cost (including costs in anticipation)  Total cost (excluding costs in anticipation) 
			 2000 2,155 l,289 
			 2001 2,442 l,513 
			 2002 2,581 l,587 
			 2003 2,768 1,694 
			 2004 2,445 l,366 
			  Source: CLG Economic cost of fire model

Caravan Sites: Squatting

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers local authorities have to deal with the illegal use of caravans sited in holiday parks as permanent residences.

Iain Wright: When granting planning permission for the use of land as a site for caravans for holiday use, local authorities may impose conditions which prevent the caravans from being used at certain times of the year. The aim of such conditions is generally to ensure that the premises are only used by visitors and do not become part of the local housing stock.
	Where a condition is breached, local authorities can serve a breach of condition notice to ensure that the conditions are complied with.

Children in Care

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of children's homes were assessed as providing inadequate provision in each year from 1996-97 to 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Since April 2007, children's homes have been regulated by the Chief Inspector for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills; prior to that they were regulated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Data on the outcome of inspections of individual homes are not held centrally by this Department.
	We recognise that standards need to improve and are taking a number of steps to improve provision in children's homes. The Children and Young Persons Bill, currently before Parliament, includes provisions to strengthen the Chief Inspector's powers to address poor performance. In addition, we are taking forward work, through the Children's Workforce Development Council, to develop a framework of skills which all those caring for children in residential homes will be expected to demonstrate. We will also be piloting a social pedagogic approach in children's homes, in order to support residential care staff in working more effectively with children in a group setting.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2133W, on community relations, when she expects to publish guidance on tension monitoring.

Parmjit Dhanda: I have today published DCLG's guidance for local authorities on community cohesion contingency planning and tension monitoring. It is a web based tool and can be found on the DCLG website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/cohesionplanning

Departmental Domestic Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions she has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: In the last 12 months, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government visited Scotland once and Wales once. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many freedom of information requests made to her Department were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information in each year since the Act came into force.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Ministry of Justice has published two annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies (including central Government Departments) in 2005 and 2006. These reports can be found at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/reference/statisticsAndReports.htm
	The 2007 annual report is currently being drafted for publication in June 2008. However, statistics on requests received in each quarter of 2007 have been published and can be found via the MOJ website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/freedomof informationquarterly.htm
	The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public bodies to respond to written requests within 20 working days of receipt, but allows additional time for the consideration of the public interest in disclosing the requested information.
	The published reports provide statistics on the number of requests for information other than routine or normal course of business requests received during each period where: an initial response was provided within 20 working days; an initial response was given outside this time but a public interest test extension had been applied; an initial response was given outside this time and no public interest test extension was applied, and where no initial response had been given at the time the statistics were collected.
	The 2006 annual report provides statistics on the duration of the public interest test extensions in that year. Corresponding statistics for 2007 will be available when the 2007 annual report is published.
	Information requests where deadlines were extended beyond 40 days is not collected in the form requested; however Communities and Local Government answered 88 per cent. of resolvable requests in time (i.e. meeting the deadline or with a permitted extension) in 2007.
	For 2005 and 2006, the reports show the number of requests received by the Department which were withheld, either in full or in part, where an FOI exemption or EIR exception was applied. For 2007, there were 103 such requests, based on aggregated quarterly statistics from 2007. Requests withheld solely under the exemption applicable to information available by other means are not included; statistics on these are not collected centrally because they are treated in the statistics as routine business.

Fire Prevention: Insurance

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she has had with the Association of British Insurers on the use of Section 4.4 of the Technical Briefing on Fire Performance of Sandwich Panel Systems document (2003) by panel manufacturers.

Iain Wright: The purpose of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Technical Briefing is to assist insurance surveyors and under-writers to assess the use of sandwich panels in the construction of buildings, with respect to potential economic loss in the event of a fire.
	Current statutory provisions and supporting standards for fire protection in buildings are made only for the purposes of securing the health and safety of people in and around buildings, not to reduce economic loss, therefore no such discussions have taken place with the ABI.

Fire Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions fire and rescue services were required to evacuate residents from their homes in each year since 1994.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services: Aviation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many aircraft incidents were attended by the fire service in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of aircraft incidents attended by fire and rescue services since 1997-98 is set out as follows.
	
		
			  Aircraft incidents attended by fire and rescue services in England, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Number 
			 1997-98 299 
			 1998-99 378 
			 1999-2000 231 
			 2000-01 194 
			 2001-02 259 
			 2002-03 178 
			 2003-04 211 
			 2004-05 238 
			 2005-06 187 
			 2006-07 235

Fire Services: Injuries

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firefighters were injured in the course of operational incidents in fire and rescue services in England in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of firefighters that were injured in operational incidents in fire and rescue services in England since 1998-99 is tabled as follows. Information prior to 1998-99 is not held centrally.
	
		
			  Firefighters in England injured attending operational incidents between 1998-99 and 2006-07 
			  Fire and Rescue Service  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03( 1)  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon 55 80 92 85 131 94 46 33 37 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 61 44 43 28 33 7 31 15 19 
			 Buckinghamshire 37 27 24 24 10 21 15 14 21 
			 Cambridgeshire 69 64 44 46 35 48 34 40 39 
			 Cheshire 49 46 49 39 48 59 58 23 32 
			 Cleveland 25 37 29 n/a 32 43 29 34 45 
			 Cornwall 17 33 40 27 33 31 28 37 18 
			 County Durham and Darlington 41 41 31 32 53 33 28 0 16 
			 Cumbria 40 43 61 41 43 36 40 26 23 
			 Derbyshire 85 58 71 46 49 35 63 23 26 
			 Devon 68 78 109 52 50 65 41 41 39 
			 Dorset 43 47 47 79 43 65 52 40 37 
			 East Sussex 35 51 26 57 47 86 55 61 73 
			 Essex 67 92 103 89 62 102 67 73 103 
			 Gloucestershire 31 25 49 45 40 44 36 19 26 
			 Greater Manchester 232 293 261 219 184 188 176 129 118 
			 Hampshire 50 76 81 50 50 80 38 21 10 
			 Hereford and Worcester 29 14 34 29 38 43 45 23 30 
			 Hertfordshire 35 57 51 42 62 135 73 80 26 
			 Humberside 63 90 57 91 81 58 62 29 26 
			 Isle of Wight 7 22 6 16 1.6 6 4 6 18 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 92 97 79 81 60 104 88 79 67 
			 Lancashire 42 61 76 n/a 62 59 67 47 45 
			 Leicestershire 50 35 47 36 41 39 13 16 16 
			 Lincolnshire 33 15 22 27 18 18 19 21 6 
			 London 431 448 486 388 387 413 244 238 199 
			 Merseyside 79 112 74 61 83 90 133 59 71 
			 Norfolk 41 65 40 56 47 64 34 34 46 
			 North Yorkshire 39 37 34 28 32 39 24 35 34 
			 Northamptonshire 37 30 44 47 55 52 63 51 47 
			 Northumberland 20 19 24 19 14 20 19 16 13 
			 Nottinghamshire 65 69 62 75 96 67 48 58 36 
			 Oxfordshire 53 45 39 61 22 36 13 22 22 
			 Royal Berkshire 60 64 69 31 34 47 19 25 28 
			 Shropshire 28 22 16 28 26 27 15 22 20 
			 Somerset 48 24 24 60 33 60 16 16 14 
			 South Yorkshire 47 65 66 85 86 74 55 56 57 
			 Staffordshire 55 75 113 54 62 64 87 84 49 
			 Suffolk 65 78 61 49 65 63 16 18 51 
			 Surrey 91 49 54 54 110 233 84 104 86 
			 Tyne and Wear 103 110 95 96 99 95 46 37 41 
			 Warwickshire 28 32 27 22 17 52 30 27 11 
			 West Midlands 140 135 140 146 155 228 219 138 107 
			 West Sussex 52 51 63 45 27 42 25 40 52 
			 West Yorkshire 101 141 121 144 111 123 100 90 72 
			 Wiltshire 26 18 21 31 25 32 17 22 24 
			 Total 2,965 3,215 3,205 2,861 2,909 3,420 2,515 2,122 1,996 
			 n/a = Information not available. (1) In 2002-03 there was a period of industrial action, which lasted for 15 days.

Fire Services: Youth Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the merits of  (a) the Wiltshire Fire Service Salamander scheme and  (b) other fire service youth community projects.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department commissioned research, published in March 2006, looking into the effectiveness of youth training and diversion schemes. The research found that where schemes were evaluated independently there are examples of projects that have achieved clear and demonstrable outcomes for young people. Such outcomes include boosting young people's confidence and motivation; changing attitudes towards offending and antisocial social behaviour; and achieving re-engagement with education. The Wiltshire Fire Service Salamander scheme was not launched until July 2006 and therefore did not form part of the Department's research.

Fire Services: Youth Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of young people who have participated in youth community projects run by fire services in England in each of the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department provided 11.4 million funding for 2006-08, through its Fire Prevention Grant, to Fire and Rescue Services in England to develop a range of schemes, some of which are youth community projects. The Department has commissioned evaluation of the grant scheme, including levels of participation, which will be published later this year.

Fire Services: Youth Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which youth community projects are run by fire services in England.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department does not hold centrally a list of youth community projects run by fire and rescue services in England. The results of a recent London fire brigade national survey of youth focused projects run by fire and rescue services will be jointly published by London fire brigade and the Department later in the summer.

Fires

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total insured fire losses for  (a) dwellings and  (b) commercial premises in each fire and rescue service were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by region.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not available centrally. However, the ABI represents the majority of the UK insurance market and publishes annual statistics on the total value of claims from domestic and commercial fires each year. This information is available by subscribing to the ABI's statistical service.

Greenbelt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Prime Minister's Statement of 11 July 2007,  Official Report, columns 1449-51, on the draft legislative programme, what the Government's policy on Green Belt  (a) designation and  (b) protection is.

Iain Wright: The Government's policy on the designation and protection of green belt is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: Green Belts.
	Proposals for new green belt should be considered through regional spatial strategies in the first instance. Local planning authorities proposing to establish a new green belt should demonstrate why normal planning and development control policies would not be adequate and whether any major changes in circumstances have made the adoption of this exceptional measure necessary. It should also show what the consequences of the proposal would be for sustainable development.
	There is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt. Such development should not be approved, except in very special circumstances.
	As the Prime Minister made clear in his statement of 11 July 2007, we will continue robustly to protect the land designated as green belt.

Hazardous Substances

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) chemical and  (b) fuel (i) spills and (ii) suspected spills the fire and rescue service in each fire authority area and each region attended in each year since 2001.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in England and Wales were classified as homeless in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. This information includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Data on the number of households in England accepted as being owed a main homelessness duty are also published in the Department's quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, which also provides data on the number of accepted households in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter. Table 3 of the release provides a breakdown of acceptances by Government Office region for each year from 1997 onwards. The tables are published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 10 March 2008, and contains data for the period up to December 2007, and is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/714966.xls
	The Department does not hold statistics for the devolved Administrations.

Homelessness: Armed Forces

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many former armed forces service personnel were estimated to have been homeless in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2007.

Iain Wright: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level, in respect of households rather than people. Information reported includes the number of households accepted by local authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty. The duty owed to an accepted household is to secure suitable accommodation.
	Since 2005, data have been collected on the number of accepted households whose reason for loss of last settled home was having left HM forces. In 2007, 211 applicants accepted as owed the main homelessness duty cited the reason for loss of their last settled home as having left HM forces, representing 0.3 per cent. of total acceptances
	Information is also available by the priority need of the household. In 2007 there were 36 households accepted as being in priority need primarily as a result of being vulnerable through having served in HM forces. This represents less than 0.1 per cent. of all acceptances in the year. However some ex-forces personnel will be hidden within other priority need categories, for example, the presence of dependent children or having a mental illness), and so will not show up as ex-forces in these figures.
	Many of those applicants with the HM forces priority need are likely to have the reason for loss of having left HM forces accommodation, so there will be overlap between the two figures.
	Local authorities who conduct rough sleeper counts collect information on any individuals sleeping rough, and these are published annually on our website. Figures include those rough sleepers who have previously served in HM forces, but these are not shown separately.
	Rough sleeping among ex-armed forces personnel has dropped. There are no specific data for 1997 but studies at the time suggested between a quarter and one fifth of rough sleepers had been in the armed forces at some stage. There is specific information for London provided under the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) recording system. In 2006-07, for those rough sleepers in London contacted by services, 5 per cent. had spent some time in the armed forces in the past. This has remained consistent over the last four years.

Households: Temporary Accommodation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless households were in temporary accommodation in  (a) each Government Office region and  (b) each local authority in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data on the number of households in temporary accommodation in each Government office region are published in the Department's quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness, at the end of each quarter.
	Table 7 of the statistical release provides information on temporary accommodation by Government office region for each year from 1997 onwards. The tables from the latest release, published on 10 March 2008, have been deposited in the Library of the House and are available from our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/714966.xls
	A table summarising homelessness figures for each local authority for the past 10 years, including the total number of households in temporary accommodation, is available in the Library of the House.

Housing: Armed Forces

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the requirements are on local authorities to prioritise service personnel for accommodation.

Iain Wright: Under section 167 of the Housing Act 1996 (the 1996 Act), local authorities must allocate housing in accordance with their allocation scheme. Such schemes must give reasonable preference to certain categories of person (e.g. those who are homeless, those in overcrowded housing and those who need to move on medical or welfare grounds). The legislation also allows (but does not require) local authorities to take into account other factors in determining relative priorities between those in the reasonable preference categories, including whether or not a person has a local connection with the local authority district. Local connection is defined by s.199 of the 1996 Act. This is particularly relevant in the case of service personnel, since, under the current legislation, a person will not establish a local connection with an area because of residence or employment while he is posted there in the armed forces.
	The homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) provides an important safety net for people who become homeless or threatened with homelessness. In particular, English local housing authorities must secure suitable accommodation for applicants who are eligible for assistance, homeless through no fault of their own and fall within a priority need group. The priority need groups include applicants who are vulnerable for some reason, including those vulnerable as a result of having been a member of the armed forces.
	The Housing and Regeneration Bill which is currently before Parliament will amend section 199 to remove the provisions which prevent members of the armed forces from establishing a local connection in a district through employment or residence and will ensure that members of the armed forces are put on an equal footing with civilians when applying to local authorities for social housing and/or homelessness assistance.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the launch of the Green Homes Service.

Iain Wright: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ministers and officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, including on policies to promote the environmental sustainability of homes.

Housing: Foreigners

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals who are not UK citizens are housed by (a) Cross Keys Homes and  (b) other registered social landlords in Peterborough under the Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004.

Iain Wright: Information on individuals housed by registered social landlords who are not UK citizens and who are subject to the Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004 is not collected centrally.

Housing: Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of immigration on housing demand in the United Kingdom.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden (Mr. Lilley) on 16 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1259W.

Housing: Insulation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will issue guidance to  (a) home improvement agencies and  (b) other agencies responsible for introducing energy efficiency measures on the effect of different weather conditions on older Bradstone-built houses when adapting those houses through the installation of cavity wall insulation.

Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government has no plans to issue further guidance on cavity wall insulation beyond that which already exists within the Building Regulations Part Csite preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture. This indicates that the complete filling of cavities in a cavity masonry wall, for all property types, is not recommended in certain locations and under certain weather conditions.
	Further guidance on the installation of cavity wall insulation is provided by the Energy Saving Trust and also within Building Research Establishment's booklet BR 262Thermal insulation: avoiding the risks.

Housing: Low Incomes

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in the London borough of Bexley in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Figures for the number of affordable homes built in the London borough of Bexley are tabulated in the table. The figures include Social Rent and Intermediate Affordable Housing new build; they exclude affordable housing acquisitions.
	
		
			  New build affordable homes in the London borough of Bexley 
			   New affordable homesNew Builds 
			 1997-98 129 
			 1998-99 83 
			 1999-2000 98 
			 2000-01 40 
			 2001-02 6 
			 2002-03 138 
			 2003-04 31 
			 2004-05 62 
			 2005-06 58 
			 2006-07 101 
			  Source: Registered Social Landlord new build figures from the Housing Corporation, Local Authority new build completions from P2 returns

Housing: Low Incomes

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measure of inflation her Department uses in calculations affecting shared equity home ownership schemes sponsored by her Department and its agencies.

Iain Wright: Measures of inflation used in calculations affecting the Government's sponsored shared ownership and shared equity schemes relate to rent and equity loan charges.
	Rent paid under the Government's New Build HomeBuy shared ownership scheme is capped at 3 per cent. of the value of the un-owned equity in the first year, with a target of 2.75 per cent. From the second year, the rent can increase by the Retail Price Index plus 0.5 per cent. This charging arrangement is set out in the shared ownership lease.
	The Government's new shared equity Open Market HomeBuy scheme enables purchasers to buy a property with the help of an equity loan. The loan is required to be repaid on resale of the property or earlier, if the purchaser wishes. The amount which is repaid is based on the market value of the property at the date of repayment or sale. The charges on the equity loan vary depending on which one of two products is chosen by purchasers.

Housing: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons additional restrictions on extended permitted development rights for households  (a) apply in conservation areas and  (b) do not apply in (i) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (ii) national parks.

Iain Wright: Additional restrictions on householder permitted development rights generally apply equally to conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks.
	On 6 April 2008 the Government introduced changes that allow for certain types of small-scale renewable energy to be installed by householders without the need to apply for planning permission. On balance, and given the desire to encourage the take-up of microgeneration, it was decided that a more restrictive approach should apply to conservation areas, but not to national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. We believe that development of the scale permitted will not have an adverse impact on national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty which are protected because of the beauty of the natural landscape.

Local Government and Regeneration Division

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1266W, on the local government and regeneration division, if she will list each of the smaller boards, working groups and committees within the division referred to in her answer.

Parmjit Dhanda: Local Government and Regeneration Group co-ordinates the following smaller boards, working groups and committees. The number, remit, and membership of such smaller boards and working groups changes depending on the group's business at any one time.
	Settlement Working Group
	Capital Programme Working Party
	Central Local Information Partnership
	Local Government Pension Scheme Policy Review Group
	Firefighters' Pension Scheme 111 Health Review Group
	Firefighters' Pensions Committee
	Assessment, Inspection and Review Project Board
	Innovation, Capacity and Efficiency Project Board
	Outcomes, Indicators and Targets Project Board
	Governance and Partnerships Project Board
	Local Area Agreements/Multi-Area Agreements Project Board
	Digital Inclusion Team Project Board
	Data Interchange Hub Project Board
	Cleaner Safer Greener Communities Sounding Board
	Green Flag Advisory Board
	Regeneration Framework Steering Group
	Regeneration Framework Working Group
	Officials Group on the Regeneration of East Manchester
	Worklessness Joint Board
	Business Engagement Network
	Local Authority Restructuring Project Board
	Community Empowerment Project Board.

Mobile Homes

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) park homes and  (b) caravans intended as holiday and temporary accommodation which are registered with local authorities.

Iain Wright: No park homes or caravans are required to be registered with local authorities. Caravan sites (including park home sites) are required to have a site licence issued by the local authority under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
	We estimate there are approximately 84,000 park homes on 1,950 sites in England intended for residential use. The industry estimates there are 240,000 caravans on 3,000 sites in England intended as holiday accommodation. No estimate has been made of the number of caravans intended as temporary accommodation.

Planning Permission: Fees and Charges

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the application of the de minimis principle, in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy, will be in terms of number of buildings or value of buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: In its publication of 24 January 2008 on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the Government announced that there would be a de minimis threshold below which development would not be liable to pay CIL. This would include householder development by homeowners and could, subject to consultation, include some development deemed to have been granted permission under the General Permitted Development Order.
	The Government have announced that it will take a criteria-based approach towards considering whether there should be any exemptions from CIL, and the details of how CIL will operate will be set out in secondary legislation, which will be subject to full consultation. Further announcements on CIL will be made in due course.

Planning: Floods

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department has made of planning regulations in the light of the floods in summer 2007.

Iain Wright: Sir Michael Pitt's interim conclusion from his inquiry into the lessons learned from the floods last summer, is that the new policy in Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk (PPS25), is sound but should be rigorously applied by local authorities. Work on achieving this is already well in hand. The Practice Guide to PPS25, which will provide practical advice to local authorities on implementing the policy, is due to be published shortly.
	We have decided to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 1995, so that in future, householders will only be able to pave over their front gardens without planning permission, if the surface provided would be permeable. We are taking this step because surface water run-off was a significant contributory factor to last summer's floods. We anticipate this amendment coming into force in October.

Regional Equality and Diversity Partnerships

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name and address of each regional equality and diversity partnership is; and how much funding is allocated to each for 2008-09.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Government do not require the creation of regional equality and diversity partnerships. However, such partnerships have been formed in a number of regions and are funded by a variety of organisations, both public (including regional development agencies, regional assemblies, local authorities and the Big Lottery Fund) and private (including business, trade associations and trade unions).
	Identifying and disaggregating each public and private organisation's contribution to their activity could be done only at disproportionate cost.
	The names and addresses of those partnerships for which we have contact details are:
	
		
			   Address 
			 Equality South West East Reach House, East Reach, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3EN 
			   
			 West Midlands Equality and Diversity Partnership Regional Partnership Centre, 3rd Floor, Albert House, Quay Place, 92-93 Edward Street, Birmingham, B1 2RA 
			   
			 Northwest Equality and Diversity Leadership Group PO Box 37, Renaissance House, Centre Park, Warrington, WA1 1XB 
			   
			 North East Equality and Diversity Partnership Metropolitan House, Longrigg, Swalwell, Gateshead, NE16 3AS 
			   
			 East of England Equalities and Diversity Network Flempton House, Flempton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EG

Repossession Orders: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent reports she has received on strategies to manage housing repossessions in each housing authority in Hampshire; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Under the Homelessness Act 2002, local authorities were required by July 2003 to publish a strategy for tackling and preventing homelessness and ensuring that accommodation and support is available to people in their district who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This must be reviewed and published every five years and as such all authorities must have completed a review by July 2008.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Detainees: Guantanamo Bay

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received from the US authorities on the Government's request for the return of Mr. Binyam Mohamed from Guantanamo Bay; and what reports he has received of plans to try Mr. Mohamed before a US military tribunal.

David Miliband: As I set out in my written ministerial statement on 13 December,  Official Report, columns 56-57WS, the US is not currently inclined to agree to our request for the release and return of Mr. Mohamed to the UK. However, my officials continue to discuss his case with the US. While he was charged under the previous Military Commissions arrangements, our contacts with the US have not revealed formal proceedings against him under the new Military Commissions Act.

Detainees: Guantanamo Bay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of the United States on the Military Commissions Act.

Kim Howells: UK officials most recently discussed the Military Commissions Act with the US Government in February 2008, in the context of discussions over Binyam Mohamed, a former UK resident currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.

Detainees: Guantanamo Bay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of the United States on the treatment of unlawful enemy combatants.

Kim Howells: Officials have most recently discussed treatment of unlawful enemy combatants with the US in the context of discussions over the two former UK residents currently held at Guantanamo Bay; Binyam Mohamed and Shaker Aamer.

EU External Relations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether defence attachs or military representatives of EU member states will form part of the EU's proposed External Action Service; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: There have not yet been any detailed discussions on the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS), but its creation will have no impact on the ability of national Defence Attaches and Military Representatives to perform their bilateral representative duties. The decision to launch the EEAS will not be taken until after the Treaty enters into force.

Gaza: Borders

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 April 2008,  Official Report, column 2322W, on Gaza: borders, what conditions need to be met for the EU border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing to resume operations; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The EU is ready to consider resuming its border assistance mission at Rafah (Gaza-Egypt crossing) when the parties agree and when the security conditions allow.

Jordan: Tourism

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Minister of Tourism of Jordan on sustainable tourism.

Kim Howells: The subject of the welfare of the horses which serve the tourism industry at Petra is one of real concern to many British visitors. There is a long history of efforts to improve the lot of the horses at Petra. The Brook hospital is well established there, providing veterinary care for the horses and awareness-raising for their owners for over 20 years. Although a great deal has been achieved over the years, there is still a need to improve the standards of treatment and welfare for the horses and further improvement on the ground is likely to take some time.
	While my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to raise this specific issue with the Minister of Tourism of Jordan, officials in London have raised this with the Jordanian embassy in London and our ambassador in Amman will be taking up this issue with a range of relevant individuals and organisations in Jordan.

South Africa: Chemical and Biological Warfare

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2008 to Question 192701, on South Africa: chemical and biological warfare, whether the evidence given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission considered in the investigation included evidence that Wouter Basson used a house in the home counties of England to meet UK scientists and to circumvent the sanctions regime against South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 935W, UK investigations initiated following allegations of assistance to South Africa's Project Coast, considered information from a variety of sources including evidence given to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. I can neither confirm nor deny details of specific evidence considered during these investigations.

Syria: Nuclear Weapons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on steps the International Atomic Energy Agency should take to investigate the alleged existence of a nuclear weapons programme in Syria and its links with North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammed el Baradei, said on 25 April that the IAEA
	will treat this information with the seriousness it deserves and will investigate the veracity of the information.
	Mohammed el Baradei went on to say
	under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), the agency has a responsibility to verify any proliferation allegations in a non-nuclear weapon state party to the NPT and to report its findings to the IAEA Board of Governors and the Security Council, as required.
	We await the outcome of the IAEA's investigation.
	The US evidence highlights the need for states to agree and implement an additional protocol if the IAEA is to be able to give adequate assurance that they have no undeclared nuclear activities.

Treaty of Lisbon

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which areas of domestic legislative competence are unaffected by the EU Reform Treaty.

Jim Murphy: For the first time the Lisbon Treaty defines the Union's competences, setting out where the EU can and cannot act. These competences are set out in Article 2(12) of the Treaty of Lisbon (Cm 7294 pages 52-55) presented to Parliament in December 2007. The Treaty explicitly states that competences not conferred on the EU remain with member states.

Treaty of Lisbon

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with European counterparts on the scope of responsibility of the  (a) posts and  (b) institutions to be established by the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 9 May 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular contact with all of our EU partners on a variety of issues.
	The scope of responsibility of the posts and institutions provided for by the Lisbon treaty is set out in its provisions.
	As set out in my letters of 22 April to the chairs of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee and Lords EU Select Committee, technical level discussions to prepare for implementation have begun. While it is only sensible to ensure that the EU is ready to implement the treatyif all countries have ratifiedwe have made it clear to, and agreed with, our EU partners that no final decisions can be taken until ratification is confirmed.

United Nations: Finance

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had at the UN on strategic reserves for rapid response in emergency situations.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is in regular discussions with all United Nations (UN) agencies delivering humanitarian assistance, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), on the locations and quantities of their emergency stockpiles. This is part of our wider efforts to build global capacity for humanitarian response. Most recently, DFID officials met with WFP officials to discuss their Humanitarian Response Depots, which are currently being set up in five locations around the world. Emergency food supplies from the WFP stockpile in Brindisi, Italy, have already been drawn on to assist those affected by the recent cyclone in Burma.

Zimbabwe: Arms Control

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to secure an international moratorium on arms sales to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Following on from the UN Security Council discussion on 29 April, we are encouraging the Southern African Development Community countries to continue to prevent arms transfers to Zimbabwe and to further explore how the international community can support these efforts. We will continue to press for an international moratorium until democratic governance is restored to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: Arms Control

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have sold arms to Zimbabwe in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We do not maintain a record of other countries' arms purchases or sales. The EU and US have an embargo on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe and we are supporting the call for a temporary moratorium on all arms sales until Zimbabwe has a democratic government in place.

Zimbabwe: United Nations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the UK has made for action to be taken by the UN on Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe warrants the highest level of international engagement. In addition to various contacts I have had with UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, we have called on the UN to deploy a Human Rights monitoring mission to Zimbabwe, and strongly supported the inclusion of discussion of Zimbabwe at the UN Security Council meeting on 29 April. We will continue to press for active UN engagement, including the deployment of observers for any second round of the presidential election.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Assessments: Absenteeism

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of trends in levels of absence from key stage 3 tests; how many pupils registered to take key stage 3 tests were absent from these tests in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The absence rate for key stage 3 (KS3) national curriculum tests is between 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. whereas the absence rate for key stage 2 (KS2) tests is around 1 per cent. The proportion of pupils absent or unable to access the KS3 tests in 2007, broken down by local authority, can be found on the Department's Achievement and Attainment Tables website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/ks3_07.shtml.

Bird and Bird

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what contracts were awarded by his Department to Bird and Bird Solicitors in each year since 2005; and what the  (a) value and  (b) duration of each such contract was.

Kevin Brennan: Since 2005, the Department has contracted with Bird and Bird using the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions open L-Cat Framework agreement for procuring external legal services. The Department does not hold a comprehensive central contracts record. However, the following table presents available information, including known payments for the contracts concerned. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Departmental initiative/activity supported  Contract period  Contract value/payments made to Bird and Bird 
			 General legal advice to support the DfES Smartcard Project 2005-06 Framework Agreement used. Payments made were: 
			   2005: 10,358 
			   2006: 21,569 
			
			 IP Telephony, Records Management BT VOIP Project January 2005-08 Framework Agreement used. Payments made were: 
			   2006: 4,559 
			   2007: 24,144 
			   2008: 13,133 
			
			 ContactPoint initiative February 2006 to March 2008 Framework Agreement Contract value was: 
			   315,000 
			 Electronic Common Assessment Framework February 2008 to April 2008 Framework Agreement Contract value was: 
			   18,835 
			   Payments made between 2006 to 2008 total: 
			   224,795 
			
			 Education Maintenance Allowance Initiative 2005 Payment of: 
			   17,723

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received on the effects of the Environment Agency's requirements for flood risk assessments on development related to the Building Schools for the Future programme in  (a) Canvey Island and  (b) Essex.

Jim Knight: I am aware of the issues affecting Essex's wave 4 Building Schools for the Future projectand, in particular, the schools on Canvey Islandthrough regular ministerial reports from officials and Partnerships for Schools (PfS). PfS and my officials have been working with the local authority to minimise the delays to the delivery of new and refurbished schools, and associated educational transformation, in south Essex. I am not aware of any specific representations to the Secretary of State.

Children and Adoption Act 2006

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to implement the provisions relating to parenting in the Children and Adoption Act 2006.

Kevin Brennan: The provisions of part 1 of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 relating to Family Assistance Orders and risk assessments were implemented in October 2007. The time scale for implementing the remaining provisions in part 1 of the Act is subject to completion of a number of tasks, including preparing for the provision of 'contact activities', making necessary changes to the court rules, putting new administrative systems for court staff in place and staff training. The Ministry of Justice published a consultation paper on draft rules on 7 May. The Government will shortly be making a written ministerial statement (WMS), outlining the timetable for implementation of the remaining provisions in part 1 of the Act.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care were placed with a member of their extended family in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: Information on the number of children in care who were placed with a member of their extended family in each of the last 10 years is not collected centrally by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). However, table A3, taken from the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007, shows the number of children looked after by English local authorities, who were placed with a foster carer, who was either a relative or friend at 31 March for each year from 2003 to 2007. The SFR is located at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml
	and table A3 can be found within the first set of Excel tables on the website.

Children: Abuse

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2220-1W, on children: abuse, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's guidance on reporting alleged abuse to a local authority designated officer makes clear that this obligation is not specified in primary legislation.

Kevin Brennan: The guidance Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education sets out, in paragraphs 1.6 to 1.12, the relevant legislation pertaining to this subject. This guidance is relevant for the purposes of section 157 (and the regulations made under that section) and section 175 of the Education Act 2002. All schools, including independent schools, should use the guidance to ensure they have effective safeguarding systems in place, which include the notification of local authority designated officers.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average age of  (a) childcarers in maintained nurseries,  (b) childcarers in private, voluntary and independent nurseries and  (c) childminders was in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information about the age of staff working in full day care provision and the age of childminders. The 2006 figures on the percentage of full day care staff in each age group, by the ownership of the provision, are shown in Table 1. Data for previous years are not available.
	
		
			  Table 1: Age of all paid staff in full day care providers, by ownership of provision, 2006 
			  Percentage 
			   Private  Voluntary  Local authority  School/college  Other 
			 16 to 19 6 2 2 1 3 
			 20 to 24 28 13 12 13 26 
			 25 to 29 24 12 18 21 25 
			 30 to 39 18 28 28 25 22 
			 40 to 49 14 30 24 21 14 
			 50 and over 8 14 14 17 8 
			  Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent due to rounding, 'don't know' responses and refusals to answer the question. 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the percentage of childminders in each age group, for each year available.
	
		
			  Table 2: Age of childminders 
			  Percentage 
			   2003  2005  2006 
			 20 to 39 48 45 43 
			 40 to 49 34 37 35 
			 50 and over 18 18 22 
			  Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent due to rounding, 'don't know' responses and refusals to answer the question.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessors spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Kevin Brennan: The majority of central Government Departments are members of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). The GCOF aims to fulfil the Government's commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central Government. It is available to all central Government Departments and provides a simple and cost effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09). Cabinet Office and DEFRA have offset an extra year (2005-06).
	The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd., who won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 Certified Emission Reduction Credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits, over three years from a range of Clean Development Mechanism (COM) projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions plc, to whom EEA is the investment adviser.
	Each GCOF participant will be able to provide cost figures for their contributions to the fund. Figures currently available cover 2005/06 (where applicable) and 2006/07. Data are currently being collected for the 2007/08 reporting year and will be available later in the year.
	DEFRA has paid 60,014.07 into the GCOF, to offset some 6,056tCO2e from a variety of sources from April 2005 to April 2007.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has paid 4,635.35 into the GCOF from April 2006 to April 2007. DCSF has also paid Climate Care 94.08 to offset carbon emissions generated from the Sustainable Schools consultation exercise and launch events held during 2006/07. DCSF are committed to offsetting carbon emissions generated from the production of all Sustainable Schools materials.

Departmental Consultation Papers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) consultation papers and  (b) new regulations have been issued by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1 January 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Children, Schools and Families, and its predecessors, (the Department for Education and Employment and the Department for Education and Skills up until 28 June 2007) have issued  (a) 370 consultation papers and  (b) 1,639 new regulations since 1 January 1997. The annual breakdown is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
			   Consultations issued  Regulations issued 
			 1997 2 70 
			 1998 3 144 
			 1999 3 206 
			 2000 41 148 
			 2001 56 167 
			 2002 35 165 
			 2003 45 168 
			 2004 33 124 
			 2005 45 150 
			 2006 44 127 
			 2007 51 139 
			 2008 12 31

Departmental Pensions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) rate and  (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has responsibility in each year since 1990-91; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Employer contribution rates for the Teachers' Pension Scheme from 1990-91 to the present are shown in the following table. The increase in the contribution rate on 1 April 2003 reflected a change in the way the scheme was financed with pensions increase (i.e. the inflation increases in the value of pensions in payment) now reflected in the total contribution rate paid by members and their employers rather than being met separately by the Exchequer.
	
		
			  Period  Rate of charge  (percentage) 
			 1 April 1989 to 30 June 1997 8.05 
			 1 July 1997 to 31 March 2000 7.2 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2002 7.4 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 8.35 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 December 2006 13.5 
			 1 January 2007 to present 14.1 
		
	
	The values of contributions received for each year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Cost  (000) 
			 1990-91 (1)754,353 
			 1991-92 825,536 
			 1992-93 907,610 
			 1993-94 949,117 
			 1994-95 971,009 
			 1995-96 975,127 
			 1996-97 1,011,146 
			 1997-98 955,115 
			 1998-99 950,057 
			 1999-2000 1,006,714 
			 2000-01 1,085,978 
			 2001-02 1,207,778 
			 2002-03 1,447,375 
			 2003-04 2,506,296 
			 2004-05 2,578,001 
			 2005-06 2,670,087 
			 2006-07 2,819,704 
			 2007-08 3,020,578 
			 (1) Data for 1990-91 have been estimated based on the total contributions made.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 402-3W, on departmental public expenditure, if he will provide a breakdown of the proportion of his Department's budget which is not devolved to schools or local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Pursuant to the answer of 29 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 402-3W, being 18 per cent. the following list provides a breakdown of the proportion of budgets not devolved to schools or local authorities in DCSF.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 14-19 Reform Group 14.1 
			 Supporting Children and Young People 0.5 
			 Early Years, Extended Schools and Special Needs Group 0.1 
			 Families 0.4 
			 Safeguarding 0.1 
			 Supporting Delivery 0.1 
			 School Standards 0.9 
			 School Resources 1.5 
			 Academies and Capital 0.1 
			 Corporate Services 0.4 
			 Communications 0.1 
			 Youth Taskforce (1 )0.1 
			 Workforce Strategy (1) 
			 School Performance and Reform (1) 
			 Schools Commissioner (1) 
			 Total 18.4

Departmental Public Participation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many public consultations were held by his Department and its predecessor in each of the last three years; and how many respondents took part in each consultation.

Kevin Brennan: The Department for Education and Skills (DFES) launched 45 consultations in calendar 2005 and 44 consultations in calendar year 2006. In calendar year 2007 DFES launched 36 consultations between January and June, and the Department for Children, Schools and Families launched 15 consultations between July and December.
	
		
			  Consultation  Number of responses 
			  2005  
			 Review of the future role of FE Colleges 221 
			 Putting children first: Parenting Plans, a Planner for Separating Parents 61 
			 Enhancement of Private Fostering Notification System 7 
			 Consultation on new school funding arrangements from 2006-07 757 
			 Skillset Film Industry Training Board 13 
			 Regulations and Guidance on Plan on the Children and Young People's Plan 101 
			 DFES Statutory guidance: Duty on local authorities to promote the educational achievement of looked after children 113 
			 Children's Services Inspection Regulations 4 
			 Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work 84 
			 Draft Adoption Regulations and Guidance for Consultation: Prescribed Fees (Adoptions with a foreign element) and Non-Agency Adoptions 4 
			 School Swimming Consultation 457 
			 Questions to Children's Information Service and Sure Start Provision 56 
			 Children's Workforce Strategy Consultation 695 
			 Draft Section 11 Statutory Guidance on Making Arrangements to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children 99 
			 Building Bulletin 77: Designing for Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Schools 38 
			 Early years regulations 96 
			 Making Safeguarding Everybody's Business: A Post-Bichard Vetting Scheme 310 
			 Inclusion, Equality and Diversity: Data 116 
			 NPQICL Consultation 24 
			 School Inspection Regulations 9 
			 Review of HE Student Finance Delivery 111 
			 Consultation on the rationalisation of grant funding from the Children, Young People and Families Directorate to voluntary organisation 48 
			 Consultation on Draft Code of Practice on the Provision of Free Nursery Education Places for 3 and 4 year olds 585 
			 Review of the Future of FE Colleges 163 
			 Draft Electronic Commerce (Adoption and Children Act 2002) Regulations 2005 0 
			 Consultation on proposals to extend the streamlined route for schools to acquire foundation status to primary schools 20 
			 Proposed Amendments To The Children (Prescribed OrdersNorthern Ireland, Guernsey And Isle Of Man) Regulations 1991 0 
			 Consultation on proposals to extend the streamlined route for schools to acquire foundation status to primary schools 20 
			 Childcare Legislation 354 
			 Somewhere to go? Something to do? 19,023 
			 Youth matters 1,045 
			 School Admissions: Consultation on the draft School Admissions Code of Practice, School Admission Appeals Code of Practice and assorted regulations 260 
			 Working Together To Safeguard Children and Local Safeguarding Children Board Regulations 302 
			 A Single Inspectorate for Children and Learners 65 
			 Consultation on a modified distribution method for the Dedicated Schools grant (DSG) for 2006-07 and 2007-08 202 
			 New Fire Safety Guidance for Schools 28 
			 Cross Government Guidance - Sharing Information on Children and Young People 257 
			 European Qualifications Framework 3 
			 Review of the regulations governing the registration of pupils in schools 182 
			 Improving the Higher Education Applications Process 190 
			 Turning the Tables: Transforming School FoodRecommendations for the Development and Implementation of Revised School Lunch Standards 261 
			 Consultation on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment)(Further and Higher Education) Regulations 2006 1 
			 Consistent Financial Reporting Framework 2006 - 07 91 
			 Draft Standards for SEN Support and Outreach Services 171 
			 Education Outside the Classroom Manifesto 680 
			 Green Paper: Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment 95 
			   
			  2006  
			 Consultation on Bringing Forward Teacher Assessment (TA) Submission Date for All Key Stages (Including the Foundation (Stage) From 2007 862 
			 National minimum fostering allowances 117 
			 School Organisation: Consultation on Secondary School Competitions and Guidance Changes 5 
			 Transforming School Food: Standards for School Food other than Lunch 203 
			 Childcare Registration: Fees Proposal 78 
			 Every Child Matters - Primary Capital Programme 103 
			 Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances 145 
			 Professionalisation of the Learning and Skills Sector 70 
			 The Early Years Foundation Stage - consultation on a single quality framework for services to children from birth to five 1,639 
			 Sustainable Schools for Pupils, Communities and the Environment 508 
			 Sustainable Schools for young people 365 
			 First Class, Adaptable, SustainableTeachers' Pension Scheme England and Wales: Consultation 149 
			 Performance management for teachers and headteachers 268 
			 Reform of higher education research assessment and funding 73 
			 The Ofsted Childcare Register 112 
			 Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSiS)  Timetable for all Schools 222 
			 Child Protection: Safer Recruitment and Vetting in the Education Service 147 
			 The Higher Education ProgrammeConsultation for Race Equality Impact Assessment Purposes 3 
			 Modernising the Regulatory Framework for Children's Social Services 71 
			 Childcare Sufficiency Assessments 81 
			 Regulations on Extension of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 to Cover General Qualifications Bodies 12 
			 Children Missing EducationDraft Statutory Guidance to Support Clause 4 of the Education and Inspections Bill 2006 59 
			 School Admissions Consultation 2006 2,229 
			 ContactPoint: Consultation on Draft Information Sharing Index, (England) Regulations and Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment 255 
			 Data Collection Regulations 12 
			 Consultation on draft regulations setting out the process for setting statutory targets for local authorities under the Childcare Act 2006 47 
			 Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life ChancesThe Implications For Race Equality 4 
			 Childcare Act 2006: Section 12 Duty to Provide Information, Advice and Assistance 71 
			 Consultation on the Draft Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) (Religion or Belief) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 6 
			 Care Matters: transforming the lives of children and young people in care 682 
			 Young People's Guide to the Care Matters Green Paper 228 
			 Amendments to regulations under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 and the Childcare disqualification regulations which apply to applications for registration made under Part XA of the Children Act 1989 28 
			 'Supplementary Consultation on School Admissions' 194 
			 Education and Inspections Act 2006: Consultation on School Organisation and Governance Regulations and Guidance 19 
			 Personalising Further Education: Developing a Vision 77 
			 International GCSEs in the maintained sector in England 121 
			 Definition of Full Time Education in Independent Schools 179 
			 Financial Benchmarkingwebsite - Identifying schools by name 279 
			 Education and Inspections Act 2006: Consultation on school travel guidance 96 
			 European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training 21 
			 Quality Standards for Young People's Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) 190 
			 The Languages Review 211 
			 Consultation on Regulations and Guidance on Management Committees for Pupil Referral Units 63 
			 EYFS Learning and Development Requirements Order 46 
			   
			  2007  
			 Education and Inspections Act 2006: Consultation on Statutory Guidance on Schools Causing Concern 12 
			 Statutory Guidance on Section 6 Education and Inspections Act (Positive Activities for Young People) 95 
			 Delivering World-class Skills in a Demand-led System 381 
			 Making Good Progress 152 
			 Exemption from Ofsted Childcare Registration 39 
			 Post-16 progression measure 93 
			 Safeguarding Children from Abuse linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession 63 
			 Consultation on draft regulations to apply section 62A of the Education Act 2002 to Pupil Referral Units 10 
			 Securing Sufficient Childcare 48 
			 Skills Strategy Equality Impact Assessment 13 
			 Draft Guidance for School Staff: Screening or Searching Pupils for Weapons (Clause 45 in the Violent Crime Reduction Act) 17 
			 Consultation on Revised Exclusions Guidance - September 2007 86 
			 Review of the Regulations Requiring Schools Maintained by Local Authorities to Set Attendance Targets of Pupils in Schools 98 
			 EYFS Learning and Development Exemptions 36 
			 Consultation on school, early years and 14-16 funding 2008-11 512 
			 DFES Guidance to Schools on School Uniform Related Policies 232 
			 Raising Expectations: Staying in education and training post-16 473 
			 Consultation on New Charging Regulations for Music Tuition 24 
			 Children's Workforce Strategy Update-Spring 2007 71 
			 Education and Training for Young People in the Youth Justice System - A Consultation 59 
			 Childcare Registration Requirements 39 
			 Increasing the Leaving Age - Have Your Say 973 
			 ContactPoint: Consultation on Draft Guidance 221 
			 Consultation on Home Education Guidelines 919 
			 Guidance on the Duty to Promote Community Cohesion 103 
			 Consultation on Draft Amendments to the Education (Specified Work and Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 made under the Education Act 2002 60 
			 The Education (National Curriculum) (Foundation Stage Early (Learning Goals) (Amendment) (England) draft Order 2007 and The Education (National Curriculum) (Attainment Targets and Programmes of Study in English) (Amendment) (England) draft Order 2007 7 
			 Raising Standards, Improving Outcomes: Draft Statutory Guidance on the Early Years Outcomes Duty 116 
			 Consultation on Proposed Changes to the Regulations and Guidance for the Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers 77 
			 Implementing youth matters - Continuing the dialogue with young people 949 
			 Mandatory collection of 'P' scale data for pupils with special educational needs (SEN 54 
			 Section 58 of Children Act 2004 Review (Consultation) 1,405 
			 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations Volume 1 Court Orders 35 
			 Barring Consultation: Implementing the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the Northern Ireland Order 2007 182 
			 Increasing Voluntary Giving to Higher Education - Consultation on a matched funding scheme for English Providers of Higher Education 95 
			 CFR Framework 2007- 08 65 
			 Schools Capital Consultation on Programme Proposals for 2008-2011 187 
			 Safeguarding Children who may have been Trafficked 59 
			 Staying Safe 330 
			 Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) consultation about the transfer of responsibility for the registration of independent schools and the regulation of independent and non-maintained special schools (NMSSs) to Ofsted 76 
			 Consultation into the Definition of an Independent School 64 
			 Staying Safe  Young People's Version 709 
			 Time to Talk 1,960 
			 Time to Talk  Young People's Version 103 
			 Consultation on Draft Information as to provision of education (England) Regulations 2008 36 
			 Review of implementation of Guidance on Handling Allegations of Abuse Against Those who Work with Children and Young People 96 
			 Key Stage 3 Test Absence Collection 21 
			 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: Independent Safeguarding Authority Scheme Consultation 326 
			 Draft Guidance To Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords On The Use of Parenting Orders and Parenting Contracts 7 
			 Childcare Act 2006: Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies 3,639 
			 Confidence in Standards: Regulating and developing qualifications and assessment 80

Departmental Written Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of questions tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day in the current session have been answered on the day named as at 1 May 2008.

Kevin Brennan: Since the beginning of the 2007-08 Session and up to 30 April 2008 the Department has received a total of 3,135 PQs: 462 named day and 2,673 ordinary written PQs. The manual check of all named day PQs carried out to monitor the timeliness of replies for the months of November 2007 to April 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Total named day PQs received  Total named day PQs answered on time (percentage) 
			 November 2007 105 30 
			 December 2007 58 38 
			 January 2008 104 28 
			 February 2008 89 42 
			 March 2008 60 75 
			 April 2008 46 83

Home Education: Finance

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local education authorities in England provide funds for home education.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect information from local authorities specifically on the funding which they provide for home education. However, included in the following table is how much local authorities in England budgeted to spend on education otherwise than at school and PRU during the 2007-08 financial year. The Department is currently collecting the financial information for 2008-09.
	
		
			  Local authority name  Budgeted net expenditure on education out of school () 
			 England 130,377,000 
			   
			 Barking and Dagenham 949,000 
			 Barnet 252,000 
			 Barnsley 407,000 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 341,000 
			 Bedfordshire 2,906,000 
			 Bexley 122,000 
			 Birmingham 2,884,000 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 0 
			 Blackpool 321,000 
			 Bolton 525,000 
			 Bournemouth 166,000 
			 Bracknell Forest 338,000 
			 Bradford 3,488,000 
			 Brent 1,594,000 
			 Brighton and Hove 774,000 
			 Bristol City of 1,365,000 
			 Bromley 377,000 
			 Buckinghamshire 265,000 
			 Bury 160,000 
			 Calderdale 207,000 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,230,000 
			 Camden 58,000 
			 Cheshire 2,250,000 
			 City of London 0 
			 Cornwall 1,470,000 
			 Coventry 329,000 
			 Croydon 1,342,000 
			 Cumbria 434,000 
			 Darlington 376,000 
			 Derby 632,000 
			 Derbyshire 2,646,000 
			 Devon 3,228,000 
			 Doncaster 422,000 
			 Dorset 436,000 
			 Dudley 1,736,000 
			 Durham 2,060,000 
			 Ealing 1,278,000 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 295,000 
			 East Sussex 699,000 
			 Enfield 975,000 
			 Essex 9,279,000 
			 Gateshead 809,000 
			 Gloucestershire 4,348,000 
			 Greenwich 275,000 
			 Hackney 179,000 
			 Halton 209,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 
			 Hampshire 2,522,000 
			 Haringey 601,000 
			 Harrow 814,000 
			 Hartlepool 152,000 
			 Havering 115,000 
			 Herefordshire 398,000 
			 Hertfordshire 6,121,000 
			 Hillingdon 344,000 
			 Hounslow 340,000 
			 Isle of Wight 143,000 
			 Isles of Scilly 26,000 
			 Islington 173,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 172,000 
			 Kent 3,959,000 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 352,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 230,000 
			 Kirklees 876,000 
			 Knowsley 115,000 
			 Lambeth 0 
			 Lancashire 591,000 
			 Leeds 1,849,000 
			 Leicester 664,000 
			 Leicestershire 658,000 
			 Lewisham 898,000 
			 Lincolnshire 634,000 
			 Liverpool 1,000 
			 Luton 936,000 
			 Manchester 764,000 
			 Medway 640,000 
			 Merton 189,000 
			 Middlesbrough 532,000 
			 Milton Keynes 799,000 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 15,000 
			 Newham 431,000 
			 Norfolk 955,000 
			 North East Lincolnshire 203,000 
			 North Lincolnshire 459,000 
			 North Somerset 445,000 
			 North Tyneside 129,000 
			 North Yorkshire 2,134,000 
			 Northamptonshire 856,000 
			 Northumberland 2,144,000 
			 Nottingham 1,423,000 
			 Nottinghamshire 772,000 
			 Oldham 353,000 
			 Oxfordshire 310,000 
			 Peterborough 685,000 
			 Plymouth 174,000 
			 Poole 206,000 
			 Portsmouth 418,000 
			 Reading 612,000 
			 Redbridge 792,000 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,241,000 
			 Richmond upon Thames 121,000 
			 Rochdale 342,000 
			 Rotherham 427,000 
			 Rutland 50,000 
			 Salford 490,000 
			 Sandwell 614,000 
			 Sefton 528,000 
			 Sheffield 1,486,000 
			 Shropshire 422,000 
			 Slough 117,000 
			 Solihull 493,000 
			 Somerset 1,382,000 
			 South Gloucestershire 403,000 
			 South Tyneside 40,000 
			 Southampton 51,000 
			 Southend-on-Sea 247,000 
			 Southwark 1,276,000 
			 St. Helens 163,000 
			 Staffordshire 2,021,000 
			 Stockport 190,000 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 215,000 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 737,000 
			 Suffolk 3,788,000 
			 Sunderland 482,000 
			 Surrey 2,504,000 
			 Sutton 685,000 
			 Swindon 819,000 
			 Tameside 250,000 
			 Telford and Wrekin 354,000 
			 Thurrock 66,000 
			 Torbay 1,140,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 651,000 
			 Trafford 495,000 
			 Wakefield 142,000 
			 Walsall 582,000 
			 Waltham Forest 802,000 
			 Wandsworth 475,000 
			 Warrington 92,000 
			 Warwickshire 701,000 
			 West Berkshire 174,000 
			 West Sussex 4,019,000 
			 Westminster 1,309,000 
			 Wigan 830,000 
			 Wiltshire 397,000 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 107,000 
			 Wirral 121,000 
			 Wokingham 11,000 
			 Wolverhampton 43,000 
			 Worcestershire 334,000 
			 York 389,000 
			  Note: Education otherwise than at school and PRU: alternative provision is suitable education arranged by local authorities for children of compulsory school age who are unable to attend mainstream or special schools because of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise.

Nurseries: Playgrounds

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average outdoor space  (a) maintained and  (b) private, voluntary and independent nurseries had as part of their premises in each year for which records are available.

Beverley Hughes: This information is not collected by the Department or Ofsted.

Primary Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children who achieved level 3 or above in key stage 2  (a) English,  (b) mathematics and  (c) science attended maintained daycare nurseries before entering primary school in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils who were permanently excluded had special educational needs in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sex and (ii) age.

Kevin Brennan: The available information is shown in the table. Full information on exclusions broken down by age, gender and special education need of the excluded pupil can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Maintained primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2) : number of permanent exclusions by special educational needs (SEN). England, 1997/98 to 2005/06 (estimates)( 3) 
			   Permanent exclusions 
			   Number of exclusions  Percentage of permanent exclusions( 4)  Percentage of school population( 5) 
			  1997/98
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 2,250 18 0.96 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN 10,050 82 0.14 
			 All pupils 12,300 100 0.16 
			 
			  1998/99
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,920 18 0 78 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN 8,510 82 0.11 
			 All pupils 10,430 100 0.13 
			 
			  1999/2000
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,490 18 0.61 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN 6,830 82 0.09 
			 All pupils 8,320 100 0.11 
			 
			  2000/01( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 810 9 0.33 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,330 91 0.11 
			 All pupils 9,140 100 0.12 
			 
			  2001/02( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,1 40 12 0.48 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,400 88 0.11 
			  Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 4,700 49 0.35 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,700 39 0.06 
			 All pupils 9,540 100 0.12 
			 
			  2002/03( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,030 11 0.43 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,260 89 0.11 
			  Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 5,140 55 0.46 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,120 34 0.05 
			 All pupils 9,290 100 0.12 
			 
			  2003/04( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,040 11 0.44 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,840 89 0.12 
			  Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 5,240 53 0.46 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,600 36 0.06 
			 All pupils 9,880 100 0.13 
			 
			  2004/05( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 850 9 0.37 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,590 91 0.12 
			  Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 4,620 49 0.40 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,970 42 0.06 
			 All pupils(7) 9,440 100 0.12 
			 
			  2005/06( 3)
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 880 10 0 39 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN(6) 8,280 90 0.11 
			  Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 5,280 58 0.43 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,000 33 0.05 
			 AH pupils(8) 9,170 100 0.12 
			 (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. (2 )Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. (3 )Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. See (4). (4 )The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of permanent exclusions. (5 )The number of excluded pupils by SEN stage expressed as a percentage of all pupils with the same SEN stage in primary, secondary and all special schools (excludes dually registered pupils) in January. (6 )The introduction of the new SEN Code of Practice means that the number of children with SEN without statements reported in 2000/01 and later are not directly comparable with earlier years. Includes pupils with no SEN and pupils with SEN without statements See (6.) (7 )There was one permanent exclusion for which stage of SEN was not knownthis was included in total for 'all pupils' only. (8 )There were 17 permanent exclusion for which stage of SEN was not knownthese were included in total for 'all pupils' only.  Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census.

Pupils: Offensive Weapons

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in England were found to be in the possession of  (a) a weapon and  (b) drugs on school premises in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Runaway Children: Protection

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department allocated to initiatives to ensure the safety of child runaways in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: The lead responsibility for responding to the needs of young people who have run away from home/care, including funding local initiatives if appropriate, lies with local authorities under their broader responsibilities to safeguard vulnerable young people. The Department does not routinely fund local provision, but has made funding (totalling 410,500 in 2006/07 and 2007/08) available to the London Refuge, following on from the community-based refuge pilots, to support the Refuge while they develop alternative sustainable funding sources.
	Ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and young people, including those who run away from home or care, is important to this Government. In 2002, 2 million was committed over three years to pilot community based refuges for young runaways, with a subsequent evaluation of these pilots. In 2006/07, 31,000 was given to The Children's Society to support their research on how effectively local authorities were responding to the needs of young runaways.
	Following The Children's Society report Stepping Up (August 2007) a cross- departmental working group on young runaways was established, supported by a consultative group made up of experts from the voluntary sector, to drive improvements in services for young runaways. An action plan, to be published in June, will set out ongoing actions to improve services at local, regional and national level.

Schools: Admissions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many fully subscribed schools in England  (a) applied for and  (b) received capital funding from their local authority for expansion (i) between 1997 and 2006, (ii) between 2006 and January 2008 and (iii) since January 2008.

Jim Knight: The Department is continuing to support huge capital investment in schools. Over CSR07 this will total 21.9 billion. This is invested through a combination of our strategic, targeted and devolved programmes to local authorities and schools. Investment priorities take account of a number of factors, including the need to expand schoolswhich is subject to the local decision making process. Accordingly, the Department does not collect information centrally on the number of applications to local authorities for capital funding to support school expansions.
	Available data show that (i) between 1999 (the first year for which information is available) and 2006, there were 20 approved proposals from schools to enlarge and increase the admission number by 27 or more, 16 approved proposals to enlarge sixth forms, and 444 smaller expansions; (ii) between 2006 and January 2008 the figures were 22, 36, and 102; and (iii) since January 2008, the figures are nine, four, and eight. We do not have figures on which of these schools were over-subscribed, or which involved a capital cost.
	Additionally, since 2004 the Department has also operated a funding mechanism whereby successful and popular schools can, with or without the support of their local authority, apply for funding toward to the cost of expanding by a form of entry. Provided they meet the criteria set out in guidance, capital support will follow provided the expansion is agreed through the local decision making process. 22 such expansions have been agreed, and additional bids are currently being considered.

Schools: Cricket

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many  (a) primary and ( b) secondary schools in England play cricket at least once a week in the summer term;
	(2)  how many maintained schools in England have at least 10 competitive cricket fixtures each summer term;
	(3)  how much the Youth Sport Trust spent on cricket in schools in each of the last three years; and what those funds were spent on.

Kevin Brennan: This information is not held centrally. The 2006/07 School Sport Survey found that 90 per cent. (up from 85 per cent. in 2003/04) of maintained schools in England provided cricket during the academic year. The survey also found that 56 per cent. (up from 45 per cent. in 2003/04) of schools were linked to a local cricket club.
	Inter-school competition will be further enhanced by the national network of Competition Managers, which will be in place from January 2009.
	As a registered charity, the work of the Youth Sport Trust is to help build a better future for young people through sport. They are working with the network of school sport partnerships and sports colleges across the country to ensure all young people have access to at least five hours of PE and school sport by 2012. Their remit is not to fund individual sports, so they have not spent any money directly on cricket, or any other individual sport.

Sixth Form Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 238W, on sixth form education: finance, on what date he plans to publish the KPMG report on the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Statement of Priorities, published in November 2007, stated that introducing a standard common 16-18 funding system for schools, colleges and providers will help us to narrow further the funding gap between school sixth forms and colleges. The KPMG independent research report on the 16-18 FE/School Sixth Form Funding Gap is available on the LSC's website from 8 May 2008. That report highlights the progress made in closing the gap from more than 14 per cent. in 2004/05 by 8 per cent. points in 2008/09. The LSC will be contacting external stakeholders by e-mail advising of the publication of the report and also giving the website link.

Sure Start Programme: Internet

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2008,  Official Report, column 707W, on Sure Start programme: internet, what proportion of expenditure on updating the Sure Start website was attributable to staff salaries in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and how many staff are employed to update the website.

Kevin Brennan: A contracted editorial resource was used, at the cost of 55,375 for 2006-07 and 63,305 for 2007-08, to provide editorial services and to update the Sure Start website. None of these costs were attributable to civil service staff salaries, however there are civil service salary costs for the project management of the Sure Start website. The proportion of time spent by two civil servants managing the Sure Start website equates to no more than 22,535 for 2006-07 and the same for 2007-08.

Truancy: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils in secondary education in  (a) Chorley and  (b) other areas in Lancashire were classed as persistent truants in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The available information relates to persistent absentees (pupils who are absent for more than 20 per cent. of possible sessions of attendance) and is given in the table.
	
		
			  State funded secondary schools ( 1,2) : pupil absence 2006/07 
			   Number of enrolments ( 3)  Percentage of persistent absentees ( 4) 
			 Lancashire local authority area 70,503 6.9 
			  Parliamentary constituencies in the Lancashire area:   
			 Chorley 7,293 5.8 
			 Burnley 5,709 11.9 
			 Fylde 4,626 5.9 
			 Hyndburn 5,294 7.9 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 7,427 4.2 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 4,274 8.9 
			 Pendle 5,298 8.9 
			 Preston 3,639 10.5 
			 Ribble Valley 8,204 4.6 
			 South Ribble 7,669 4.4 
			 West Lancashire 5,919 6.3 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 6,762 7.2 
			 Blackpool, North and Fleetwood 5,293 11.4 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained secondary schools, academies and city technology colleges. (3) Number of enrolments in schools between from start of the school year until 25 May 2007. Includes pupils on the school roll for at least one session who are aged between 5 and 15. Excludes boarders. Some pupils may be counted more than once (if they moved schools during the school year or are registered in more than one school). (4) A persistent absentee is defined as missing more than 63 sessions in the yeartypically, missing more than 20 per cent. of the school year.  Source: School Census

TREASURY

Council Tax: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency uses its automated valuation model to value newly built homes for council tax purposes.

Jane Kennedy: No. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1669W.

EU Economic Policy: Zimbabwe

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the compliance by Northern Rock Bank and its subsidiaries with the requirements of EU Regulation 898/2005, as amended, on financial sanctions against members of the Zimbabwean government;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Board of Northern Rock Bank on the compliance of the bank and its subsidiaries with the requirements of EU financial sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Kitty Ussher: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm's length from Government on commercial principles.
	We expect any bank subject to UK law to comply with all relevant rules and regulations.

Gas and Electricity Markets Authority: Consolidated Fund

Adam Ingram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the amounts transferred by Ofgem to the Consolidated Fund under section 1 of the Civil List Act 1952 for each of the years 2005-2008; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Ofgem transfers amounts to the Consolidated Fund in respect of the Fossil Fuel Levy. The following amounts were surrendered to the Consolidated Fund for calendar years 2005-08:
	
		
			million 
			 2005 150 
			 2006 160 
			 2007 150 
			 2008 (to date) 65

Insurance

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of demographic trends on the future of the insurance industry.

Kitty Ussher: It is for the insurance industry to consider future demographic trends when designing products and developing business models.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) was established by the Government in 2001 to act as the UK's independent financial regulator. As part of its supervision of insurance firms, the FSA takes a risk-based approach to discussing demographic considerations with insurers, for example when assessing the robustness of an insurer's approach to risk management. The FSA requires insurers to sign off their annual returns through auditors and actuaries. This would typically involve an assessment of the impact of demographic trends.

International Monetary Fund

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on reform of the International Monetary Fund.

Kitty Ussher: The Government have been heavily engaged with stakeholders in formulating their agenda for the reform of the International Monetary Fund, which the Chancellor then set out at the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee last month. The Government recognise that solutions to global problems, such as the financial turbulence of the past year, require greater international cooperation, and has therefore been working to build international support for reforms that will deliver a more effective and legitimate International Monetary Fund.

Smuggling: Fuels

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions HM Revenue and Customs staff in Northern Ireland have visited premises which were suspected to be centres for the distribution and sale of fuel either illegally produced or on which the appropriate duty had not been paid in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: HMRC has a regular programme of visits to retail fuel sites and fuel distribution centres. These include visits to both suspect locations and to non-suspect locations. During year ending 31 March they made 284 such visits in Northern Ireland. Some locations were visited on more than one occasion.
	It would not be appropriate to disclose the number of visits to suspect locations as this could indicate the extent of intelligence held by HMRC.
	This reply covers visits made by HMRC Detection staff only. It does not include any visits made by Direct Taxes, Indirect taxes or any other HMRC staff.

Tax Yields

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in levels of revenue which would accrue if all non-personal tax relief was allowed at the standard rate only.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the revenue impact of changing the rates at which all non-personal tax reliefs are allowed under the relevant tax regimes to the standard rate of income tax are not available. Latest estimated costs of tax expenditures and structural reliefs are published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/menu.htm

Unfair Practices: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent  (a) to raise public awareness of and  (b) on consumer protection measures relating to fraud associated with illegal share sales boiler room operations in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of cases of fraud involving illegal share sales boiler room operations in 2007.

Kitty Ussher: holding answer 8 May 20 08
	The Treasury does not undertake consumer protection activity or raise awareness of boiler room frauds directly. The Financial Services Authority has a specific statutory objective to protect consumers, which includes advising and protecting investors against boiler room frauds.
	Expenditure on the prevention of boiler room fraud cannot be disaggregated from other crime prevention or awareness raising work by the agencies concerned, such as the Home Office, Financial Services Authority or City of London Police.
	However, the FSA are able to estimate that the budget for enforcement staff working on unauthorised businesses (of which boiler rooms account for 60 per cent.) numbers 20 staff. They estimate that this will equate to around 20,000 hours at a cost of 650,000 for 2008.
	The FSA have in the last 12 months taken part in a total of 11 broadcast media appearances on the issue, including a number of radio interviews and TV appearances on programmes such as the Money Programme and the BBC News at 1. The Police have likewise been working with the media, for example targeting publications that cater to the most at risk groups.
	In the last 12 months, the FSA have also opened 250 boiler room inquiries, and the names of 215 boiler room firms have been added to their unauthorised firms list, an average of 18 per month. No estimate of cases of fraud involving boiler room operations in 2007 is available. However, the Office of Fair Trading published a report in December 2006 entitled 'Research on impact of mass marketed seams', which did assess the number of victims of high-risk investment scams more widely. The number of victims of boiler room fraud specifically could not be disaggregated from this total.

VAT: Fuels

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of  (a) suspending and  (b) reducing value added tax on domestic fuel to assist low income households with heating costs.

Jane Kennedy: Supplies of fuel and power for domestic use already benefit from a reduced rate of VAT of 5 per cent. This is the lowest rate available under our VAT agreements with our European partners.

Welfare Tax Credits: Scotland

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Scotland are eligible for  (a) working tax credits,  (b) child tax credits and  (c) pension credits; and what recent estimate he has made of the level of uptake of each credit.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the take-up rate for child and working tax credits in 2005-06, for which latest figures are available, by country and region, are produced in Table 9 of the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credit Take-up rates 2005-06. This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm.
	We do not produce statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.
	Estimates of eligibility and the take-up rate for pension credit are not available below the level of Great Britain. However, latest estimates of take-up rates and the number of pensioners who were entitled to but not claiming pension credit in Great Britain were published in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2005/06 report. A copy of this report is available in the Library.